Senegal Moves to Double Prison Terms for Same-Sex Relations, by Daniel Anthony – 13 March 2026

From Fatteh

Advocates say the proposed law has created an ‘atmosphere of terror’ among the local LGBTQ+ community and warn that, if passed, it would intensify hostility toward those who already face criminalisation.

Senegal’s prime minister Ousmane Sonko has moved to double prison sentences for same-sex relations and LGBTQ advocacy, advancing legislation that would increase penalties from five years to a maximum of ten years in jail, amid a widening crackdown on LGBTQ+ people.

The new bill was approved by the cabinet on 18 February, with the government framing it as a defence of national and moral values. Sonko subsequently called on legislators to back the proposal, describing it as a needed tightening of the country’s criminal code. The bill is now awaiting consideration before parliament.

Under Article 319 of Senegal’s penal code, consensual same-sex relations, referred to in the law as “unnatural acts,” are punishable by a prison sentence of one to five years and fines ranging from 100,000 to 1.5 million CFA francs (approximately $180 to $3,000). The proposed amendment seeks to increase the maximum prison term to ten years and raise fines to between 2 million and 10 million CFA francs ($3,500 to $18,000). The draft legislation would also introduce prison terms for individuals accused of promoting or advocating for homosexuality while imposing harsher sentences in cases involving individuals under 21.

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