Senegal Prime Minister Pushes Tougher Penalties for Same Sex Relations
Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has proposed new legislation that would double prison sentences for same sex relations, raising the maximum penalty to 10 years.
The bill, approved by cabinet last week and sent to parliament on Tuesday, comes after a wave of arrests under existing laws that already ban same sex relationships. Addressing lawmakers, Sonko said the draft law defines any sexual conduct between two people of the same sex as an “act against nature.”
Under the proposal, prison sentences would range from five to 10 years, compared with the current one to five years. If the act involves a minor, offenders would face the maximum penalty. The bill also introduces prison terms of three to seven years for anyone found promoting or advocating same sex relations. In addition, those who accuse others of homosexuality without proof could face punishment. Fines of up to 10 million CFA francs, about $18,000 are also included.
Sonko explained that the revised law would keep the offence at its current misdemeanour level, saying: “We can achieve the intended objectives without going so far as to elevate the acts to the level of more serious crimes.”
Rights groups have strongly criticised the proposal. Human Rights Watch said the recent crackdown violated “multiple internationally protected rights,” including equality and nondiscrimination.
Debate over LGBT rights has long been tense in Senegal, a conservative Muslim majority country. Religious organisations have held demonstrations in recent years calling for harsher punishments. Earlier this month, police detained 12 men, including two public figures and a journalist, under anti LGBT laws. Local media report that around 30 people have been arrested in total this month.
Sonko, a former opposition leader who became prime minister in 2024, had pledged to criminalise same sex relations. His Pastef party controls parliament, giving the bill a strong chance of passing once a date is set for debate.
The move follows similar actions in other African countries. Burkina Faso’s transitional parliament banned homosexual acts in 2025, after neighbouring Mali introduced restrictions in 2024. Uganda passed one of the world’s harshest anti homosexuality laws in 2023, allowing the death penalty for certain acts.
If approved, Senegal’s law would mark one of the toughest measures in West Africa, further deepening concerns among international rights advocates.
