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Senegal Tightens Anti-LGBTQ Laws, Doubles Prison Terms Amid Rights Concerns

Published by Samuel Ayomide on March 31st, 2026.

Senegal has enacted a controversial new law that significantly increases penalties for same-sex relationships, a move that has sparked fresh debate over human rights and civil liberties in the West African nation.

According to reports by Reuters, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye approved the legislation on Monday, with the updated provisions published in the country’s official journal a day later. The law raises the maximum prison sentence for same-sex relations from five years to 10 years, while also introducing stricter measures targeting individuals accused of promoting or funding such relationships.

The development follows overwhelming support in the National Assembly, where lawmakers backed the bill with little opposition after hours of deliberation, as noted by Al Jazeera. The legislation criminalises what it describes as “acts against nature,” a term widely used in the country’s legal framework to refer to same-sex intimacy.

Beyond direct involvement, the law extends punishment to those found guilty of encouraging or financing same-sex relationships, with prison terms ranging between three and seven years. Financial penalties have also been increased substantially, with fines now reaching up to 10 million CFA francs.

Reacting to the development, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, described the law as alarming. As reported by BBC News, he warned that the legislation contradicts fundamental human rights principles and risks further marginalising already vulnerable communities.

Local media coverage, including reports from France 24, indicates that enforcement of existing laws had already intensified in recent months, with dozens of arrests recorded since February. Many of these detentions were reportedly based on accusations and digital evidence such as phone searches, raising concerns about due process and privacy.

Interestingly, the law also introduces penalties for individuals who falsely accuse others of same-sex conduct without evidence, an addition authorities say is aimed at curbing misuse of the legal system.

The legislation comes against the backdrop of growing domestic pressure, particularly from religious and conservative groups who have long advocated stricter sanctions. Public demonstrations in recent years have called for tougher laws, often framing LGBTQ advocacy as foreign influence, a narrative highlighted in coverage by The Guardian.

Despite the harsher penalties, the offence remains legally classified as a misdemeanour under Senegalese law, a point that observers say reflects a complex balance between political promises and legal categorisation.

Advocacy groups, including ILGA World, had earlier urged the president to reject the bill, stressing the importance of protecting individual freedoms and dignity. However, with the law now in force, attention is likely to shift toward its implementation and the broader implications for human rights in the region.