Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has submitted legislation to parliament that would double the maximum prison sentence for same-sex relations to 10 years, intensifying the country’s crackdown on LGBT communities.
The bill, approved by the cabinet last week and sent to lawmakers on Tuesday, comes amid a surge of arrests under Senegal’s existing anti-LGBT laws. Earlier this month, police detained at least 12 men including two public figures and a prominent journalist over alleged same-sex relationships. Local media report that roughly 30 people have been arrested this month alone.
Speaking to parliament, Sonko described the proposed law as a response to “acts against nature,” setting prison sentences from five to 10 years, compared with the current one- to five-year terms. He added that any act involving a minor would attract the maximum penalty.
The draft law also targets those who promote or advocate for same-sex relations, prescribing three to seven years in prison. Separate penalties are proposed for individuals who accuse others of homosexuality “without proof.” Fines of up to 10 million CFA francs (about $18,000; £13,000) could also be imposed.
Sonko stressed that the law would remain classified as a misdemeanour rather than elevating same-sex relations to the level of more serious crimes. “We can achieve the intended objectives without going so far as to elevate the acts to the level of more serious crimes,” he said.
The proposed legislation reflects ongoing societal tension in Senegal, a conservative Muslim-majority country where some religious groups have called for harsher penalties and view pro-LGBT activism as foreign interference. Demonstrations demanding stricter anti-LGBT measures have been held in recent years.
Human rights groups condemned the draft law. Human Rights Watch said the recent crackdown violates multiple internationally protected rights, including equality and non-discrimination.
Senegal is not alone in tightening restrictions on LGBT rights in the region. In September 2025, Burkina Faso’s transitional parliament approved a bill banning homosexual acts, while Mali adopted similar legislation in 2024. Uganda went further in 2023, passing laws that allow for the death penalty for certain same-sex acts.
No date has been set for a parliamentary vote on the bill, though Sonko’s Pastef party holds a majority in the chamber. Observers say the proposal reflects the prime minister’s long-standing pledge, made since his 2024 appointment, to criminalise same-sex relations more severely.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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