Senegal Approves Tougher Penalties for LGBT Acts

Senegal’s president Bassirou Diomaye Faye has signed into law a bill that doubles the maximum prison term for same sex sexual acts to 10 years and criminalises any effort to promote homosexuality. The measure took effect after an official government statement confirmed his approval.
Lawmakers had voted overwhelmingly in favour of the bill earlier in March, despite strong opposition from international human rights groups. U.N. human rights chief Volker Turk warned that the legislation “flies in the face of the sacrosanct human rights we all enjoy: the rights to respect, dignity, privacy, equality and freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly.”
Faye, along with Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, had promised during their 2024 election campaign to deliver tougher anti LGBT laws. The government statement dated Monday and released Tuesday confirmed that both leaders backed the bill.
Senegal’s penal code already punished “acts against nature” with up to five years in prison and fines of 1.5 million CFA francs ($2,700). The new law doubles the maximum prison term to 10 years and raises fines to 10 million CFA francs. It specifies that “acts against nature” include homosexuality, bisexuality, “transsexuality,” zoophilia and necrophilia.
The legislation also targets those who promote or finance such acts, making them liable to prison sentences as well.
Reports from Reuters earlier this month said Senegalese supporters of the bill had discussed campaign strategies with a U.S. based “pro family” group that describes homosexuality as a public health threat.
The period leading up to the parliamentary vote was marked by a surge in arrests of men suspected of “acts against nature.” In some cases, suspects were also charged with “voluntary transmission” of HIV, a crime that carries up to 10 years in prison.
Meanwhile, rights groups say the new law will deepen discrimination and expose vulnerable communities to further abuse. They argue that criminalising promotion of LGBT rights will silence activists and restrict freedom of expression.
Despite international criticism, the government insists the law reflects Senegal’s cultural values and responds to public demand for stricter measures. Supporters say it strengthens morality and protects society, while opponents warn it undermines human rights and could damage Senegal’s international reputation.
The bill’s passage highlights the growing divide between local political promises and global human rights standards. With the law now in force, Senegal joins a number of African countries that have recently toughened anti LGBT legislation, sparking debate over rights, sovereignty and international pressure.