SENEGAL DOUBLES PRISON SENTENCE FOR SAME-SEX RELATIONS TO 10 YEARS

Senegal has significantly strengthened its anti-LGBTQ legislation. On 11 March 2026, the National Assembly passed a bill that doubles the maximum prison sentence for same-sex relations from five years to ten, while also increasing fines for related offenses. The legislation passed with overwhelming support and now awaits the signature of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye.

The bill was first introduced in February 2026 by Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, fulfilling a campaign promise after the government’s 2024 election victory. Under the existing law, Article 319 of Senegal’s penal code criminalized same-sex relations with penalties ranging from one to five years in prison. The updated legislation not only raises these penalties but also targets the “promotion” or funding of homosexuality.

This move is part of a wider trend in parts of West Africa, where governments in countries such as Burkina Fasoenacted stricter anti-LGBTQ laws in 2025, raising concerns among human rights organizations about the protection of LGBTQ communities in the region.