Ousmane Sonko has called on lawmakers to support a draft bill that would substantially increase criminal penalties for same-sex relationships in Senegal, proposing to double the maximum prison sentence from five to 10 years. Critics have described the move as part of a broader crackdown on LGBT individuals.
Speaking before the National Assembly of Senegal, Sonko stated that the proposed law would apply to all sexual acts between persons of the same sex. He added that the 10-year maximum sentence would also apply in cases involving individuals below the age of 21.
Convicted offenders could additionally face fines ranging from 2 million to 10 million CFA francs (approximately $3,590 to $17,953).
The draft legislation has already been approved by the Council of Ministers of Senegal and is now awaiting parliamentary ratification, although no date has been set for legislative debate or voting.
Sonko urged legislators across political divisions to back the bill, accusing Western countries of promoting LGBT rights in Senegal and fuelling political tensions. He also suggested that critics of the proposal were aligning themselves with foreign interests.
Human rights organisations have expressed concern over the proposed law. Larissa Kojoué, a researcher with Human Rights Watch, warned that the legislation could expose already marginalised individuals to greater risks of violence, discrimination and social intimidation.
The push for tougher legislation follows recent enforcement actions in the country. Earlier this month, Senegal’s elite gendarmerie charged 12 men with offences described as “acts against nature” and the alleged deliberate transmission of HIV.
The case, which reportedly involved two public figures, attracted widespread media attention and public debate.
The development also comes amid renewed scrutiny of anti-LGBT enforcement across Africa. In Uganda, police recently arrested two women accused of same-sex conduct after they were allegedly seen kissing in public, an action prohibited under the country’s stringent anti-homosexuality laws.
If adopted, the proposed Senegalese legislation would mark one of the most significant increases in legal penalties related to same-sex relations in the country in recent years, further intensifying debates over human rights protections, cultural values, and national sovereignty in West Africa.
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