Senegal is on the verge of implementing one of the most stringent anti-LGBT legal frameworks in West Africa following a decisive push by the national government. Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has formally presented a draft bill to the National Assembly that seeks to double the existing maximum prison sentence for same-sex relations from five to ten years.
The proposed legislation, which has already received approval from the Council of Ministers, targets “unnatural acts” with newfound severity. Under the new provisions, any individual convicted of same-sex practices could face a minimum of five years and a maximum of ten years in prison. Furthermore, the bill introduces heavy financial penalties, with fines ranging from 2 million to 10 million CFA francs (approximately $3,300 to $16,500).
Prime Minister Sonko, addressing lawmakers in late February, framed the bill as a defense of Senegalese cultural and religious values against what he characterized as “Western interference.” He argued that the current law required “clarification” to prevent legal ambiguity, while simultaneously accusing the West of attempting to impose a foreign social agenda on the country.
The legislative shift comes amid a heightened crackdown by Senegal’s elite police force, the gendarmerie. In recent weeks, at least 12 men—including two high-profile media celebrities—were arrested in Dakar on charges of “acts against nature.” Human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, have expressed deep concern over the escalating “atmosphere of fear,” warning that the new law will further marginalize vulnerable communities and hinder essential public health efforts, particularly regarding HIV prevention.
Senegal’s move reflects a growing continental trend toward legislative tightening on social issues, mirroring recent developments in Ghana and Uganda. While the bill awaits final ratification by the National Assembly, its introduction alone has already triggered a wave of anti-LGBT demonstrations in Dakar and intensified the debate over the balance between national sovereignty and international human rights standards.
