French national held in Dakar under Senegal’s strengthened anti-LGBTQ+ laws

A 30-year-old French engineer residing in Dakar has been taken into custody in a sweeping wave of arrests targeting individuals accused of violating the country’s reinforced penal code on homosexuality. The detainee faces charges including “unnatural acts, criminal conspiracy, money laundering, and intentional exposure to HIV.”

Consular intervention from France

The French diplomatic mission in Senegal has confirmed it is closely monitoring the case. Consular officials have conducted multiple visits to the detainee as part of standard protective measures, while maintaining regular contact with both the individual’s family and the Quai d’Orsay in Paris to ensure his rights are upheld.

Legal backdrop: Senegal tightens penalties on LGBTQ+ conduct

Earlier this month, Senegal enacted stricter legislation that now imposes up to ten years imprisonment for same-sex relations. This legislative shift comes amid escalating social and political pressure against LGBTQ+ rights in the country. France has reiterated its long-standing position advocating for the global decriminalization of homosexuality and the elimination of discrimination based on sexual orientation.