Full Breakdown
Senegal’s Intensified Crackdown on LGBTQ+ People Raises Human-Rights Concerns
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Mass Arrests Under a Toughened Penal Code
On 11 March Senegal’s parliament amended the penal code, doubling the maximum prison term for consensual same-sex relations to 10 years and creating new offenses for promoting or financing LGBTQ+ activities. Since February, authorities have carried out a wave of arrests targeting people suspected of “acts against nature.” A Human Rights Watch (HRW) report released on 12 October documents more than 320 individuals detained, including at least 84 charged with “voluntary HIV transmission” solely on the basis of their HIV status.
Background & Context
Same-sex sexual activity has been illegal in Senegal since 1965, but political rhetoric during the 2024 presidential campaign amplified hostility. Candidates Bassirou Diomaye Faye and former prime minister Ousmane Sonko pledged to strengthen anti-LGBTQ legislation, framing it as a national priority. The March amendment follows a regional trend, with neighboring countries such as Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Uganda enacting increasingly punitive laws.
Data & Statistics
- 320 arrests reported by the HIV Justice Network for February – October.
- 212 arrests estimated by the African Forum for the Defense of Human Rights for February – July.
- 84 individuals charged with “voluntary HIV transmission” based solely on HIV-positive status.
- A doctor in Dakar observed that one-third of patients stopped attending HIV treatment appointments after the crackdown began.
These figures show a sharp rise in detentions and a concurrent decline in health-service utilization among the affected community.
Official Statements & Responses
HRW’s LGBTQ+ rights researcher, Larissa Kojoué, called on Senegal’s government to halt the crackdown, emphasizing that the measures threaten fundamental rights. The HRW report notes that police have obtained evidence from seized phones, third-party allegations, and raids on private premises, and have leaked confidential personal information—including HIV status—to the media, exposing individuals to stigma and violence. Senegal’s National Assembly passed the March law with an overwhelming majority, establishing criminal penalties for anyone promoting or financing same-sex relationships.
Criticism & Opposition
Human-rights advocates argue that the new penalties violate domestic guarantees of a fair trial, privacy, and non-discrimination, as well as international obligations such as the Olympic Charter, which prohibits discrimination on any grounds. The HRW report warns that the crackdown undermines Senegal’s previously successful HIV response, as fear of arrest deters testing and treatment.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The exact number of arrests remains unclear. The HIV Justice Network cites 320 detentions, while the African Forum for the Defense of Human Rights estimates at least 212. No official government statistics have been released, leaving a gap in verification of the scale of the crackdown.
Verbatim Quote
- “LGBTQ+ people are being forced to curb their normal activities … for fear of arrest and increased stigma. Senegal’s government should call a halt to this crackdown, which threatens everyone’s rights.” — Larissa Kojoué, LGBTQ+ rights researcher at Human Rights Watch
What’s Next: Youth Olympic Games and International Scrutiny
Senegal is slated to host the Youth Olympic Games from 31 October to 13 November. HRW warns that the ongoing crackdown raises serious concerns about Senegal’s compliance with the Olympic Charter and international human-rights law, urging immediate cessation of the arrests and related practices.