Matar Ndiaga Seck, a 51-year-old political figure known for his close ties to Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, has been taken into custody by the Division des investigations criminelles (DIC). The arrest is part of a judicial inquiry into suspected « acts against nature ».

This legal action follows a search warrant issued by police authorities in Linguère, situated in the Louga region of northern Sénégal. Investigators indicate that several pieces of evidence align with an ongoing case that has already led to the detention of roughly twenty individuals in the Djoloff area.

Official details regarding the specific circumstances of the allegations or the current progress of the legal proceedings have not yet been fully disclosed by the authorities.

In the legal framework of Sénégal, the term « acts against nature » is governed by Article 319 of the Penal Code, which prohibits same-sex relations. The nation recently intensified its legal stance on March 31, 2026, by enacting a law that increases penalties for such acts to up to ten years of imprisonment and penalizes any « promotion » of these relationships.

Since these legislative changes took effect, more than one hundred arrests have been reported throughout the country. This wave of detentions includes a French national who has been held by Sénégalese authorities since February 14 under similar charges.

In response to the rising number of legal actions and reports of persecution, international support networks have been mobilized. These advocacy groups have already documented over 3,000 requests for assistance, providing emergency resources to those targeted by the current crackdown.

By Mariama Hamani — Analyst