Sénégal tightens anti-lgbtq+ laws amid growing persecution

As Brussels prepares to mark the 30th anniversary of its Pride Parade—a milestone in the ongoing fight for LGBTQ+ visibility and equality—the situation in Dakar tells a starkly different story. In Senegal, a newly enacted law has intensified persecution against homosexual individuals, positioning the country among Africa’s most repressive regimes.

harsher penalties and sweeping arrests

Under the law signed by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, prison sentences for “unnatural acts” have doubled, now reaching up to a decade behind bars. Fines have surged tenfold, soaring to 10 million West African CFA francs—over 15,000 euros. The bill, framed as a matter of “national sovereignty” by Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, passed unanimously in the National Assembly on March 11, 2026, with 135 votes in favor and none against. The implications are dire for thousands of people.

climate of fear and vigilante violence

The law’s immediate impact is chilling. In recent weeks alone, over a hundred individuals suspected of homosexuality have been detained. Some prefer imprisonment to facing the wrath of mobs seeking “justice” on their own terms. “You live in constant fear of being grabbed at any moment. You’re forced to hide. Living in perpetual dread isn’t a life,” confides a young man in Dakar.

He describes how public sentiment has been manipulated by those in power: “They’ve convinced people that hating homosexuals makes you more devout. Kill a homosexual, and you’ll go to paradise. Who you love—men or women—is personal. It’s between you, your partner, and God.“

Paranoia is spreading. Recently, the arrest of a French engineer sent shockwaves through the expatriate community. “We were stunned by how it happened: they knocked, he opened the door, and they took him. That’s not an arrest—it’s a raid,” recounts a friend, emphasizing that no one is safe anymore.

political and religious manipulation

The crackdown is fueled by influential religious figures. The group And Sàmm Jikko Yi, which lobbied aggressively for the law, has labeled LGBTQ+ individuals a “public menace.” Its president, Imam Babacar Sylla, has claimed without evidence that they “deliberately spread disease” and admitted to harboring no empathy for the community. This rhetoric has been co-opted by the government to divert attention from economic recession, framing homosexuality as a “Western import” incompatible with Senegalese values.

a devastating blow to human rights

The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) has sounded the alarm. “Such a law doesn’t protect anyone. It exposes already vulnerable people to arbitrary arrests, violence, and humiliation,” states Drissa Traoré, Secretary-General of the organization. The legislation also criminalizes any form of advocacy or support for LGBTQ+ rights, further eroding freedom of expression.

Public health is suffering. “People are terrified of carrying condoms or lubricants, fearing they’ll be prosecuted. Fear of testing for HIV is growing. For someone living with HIV, getting treatment will now be nearly impossible,” explains an anonymous source from a Senegalese LGBTQ+ rights group. This regression threatens decades of progress in healthcare.

Senegal isn’t alone. Thirty-one of Africa’s 54 countries criminalize homosexuality, as do 21 in Asia. While Uganda and Nigeria are notorious for their draconian laws, Senegal—a former bastion of stability—has joined their ranks. For those affected, exile or silence are the only options left.