Story perspectives

Senegal Parliament Doubles Prison Terms for Same-Sex Conduct

8/17/2026

Summary

Senegal Raises Sentences

Senegal’s Parliament voted 135–0, with three abstentions, to raise prison terms for same-sex conduct from one-to-five years to five-to-10 years.
President Bassirou Diomaye Faye signed the harsher penalties into law by the end of March 2026.
Authorities arrested and charged 71 men with “unnatural acts” on August 7, while prosecutors dropped charges against 28 defendants.
Police raided Linguère, detaining 18 people, while activists recorded 86 arrests by late April.

Summary

Senegal Criminalizes Queer

Senegal's law criminalizes the promotion or financing of homosexuality, bisexuality and transsexuality, extending liability to trans people.
Intensified arrests have caused clinic visits to fall and patients to skip antiretroviral drugs out of fear, according to Reuters-reviewed data and the Senegalese National Council for the Fight Against AIDS.
A queer health worker distributing HIV tests now fears leaving home while Human Rights Watch warns of forced testing and data misuse.

History

Historical Context

In June 2013 President Vladimir Putin signed Russia’s “gay-propaganda” law, banning public discussion of non-traditional sexual relationships for minors and imposing fines of up to 5,000 rubles. The law drew condemnation from Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International and was linked to rising homophobic violence. In 2026 Senegal adopted a similar amendment, expanding criminal penalties for same-sex conduct and targeting NGOs, echoing Russia’s restrictive model.

1 of 3

Senegal Raises Sentences

Senegal’s Parliament voted 135–0, with three abstentions, to raise prison terms for same-sex conduct from one-to-five years to five-to-10 years.
President Bassirou Diomaye Faye signed the harsher penalties into law by the end of March 2026.
Authorities arrested and charged 71 men with “unnatural acts” on August 7, while prosecutors dropped charges against 28 defendants.
Police raided Linguère, detaining 18 people, while activists recorded 86 arrests by late April.

1 / 3