Senegal Proposes Harsher Penalties, Including Up to 10 Years in Prison, for Same-Sex Acts

 Senegal's government has taken a significant step toward tightening its laws on same-sex relations, with Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko presenting draft legislation to parliament that would substantially increase prison terms for what the penal code describes as "unnatural acts.

The proposal, unveiled during a session in the National Assembly on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, seeks to amend Article 319 of the country's 1965 Penal Code. Under the current law, individuals convicted of same-sex sexual activity face between one and five years in prison, along with fines ranging from 100,000 to 1,500,000 CFA francs (roughly $180 to $2,700). The new bill would raise the penalty range to five to ten years' imprisonment, effectively doubling the maximum sentence in many cases.

Prime Minister Sonko, addressing lawmakers, emphasized that the legislation applies to all sexual acts between people of the same sex. He highlighted that the harshest penalty up to ten years would apply if the act involves someone under the age of 21. Fines could also climb significantly, potentially reaching between 2 million and 10 million CFA francs (approximately $3,590 to $17,953), according to details shared in reports from the session.

The draft law has already received approval from Senegal's Council of Ministers earlier in February, marking it as a government-backed initiative rather than a private member's bill. It now awaits debate and ratification by the National Assembly to become law. Supporters frame the measure as a necessary response to protect societal values in the predominantly Muslim West African nation, where conservative religious and cultural attitudes toward homosexuality remain strong.

This latest push comes amid a recent wave of arrests and public scrutiny. In early February 2026, authorities in Dakar detained 12 men on charges including "acts against nature" and, in some cases, alleged intentional transmission of HIV. Among those arrested were high-profile figures such as a popular TV presenter and a well-known musician, drawing widespread media attention. Human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, have expressed alarm over the detentions, noting that they heighten risks for the LGBTQ+ community, including potential violence, discrimination, and disruptions to HIV prevention efforts.

Senegal has a long history of criminalizing same-sex conduct, a provision inherited from colonial-era laws and retained after independence in 1960. Previous attempts to stiffen these penalties have surfaced periodically most notably in 2021, 2022, and 2024 but failed to pass or advance fully through parliament. Earlier proposals sometimes called for even longer sentences, up to 15 years in certain versions discussed in 2025, though the current government-endorsed bill settles on the five-to-ten-year range.

The move has sparked criticism from international human rights groups, who argue that such laws violate personal freedoms and contribute to a climate of fear and exclusion. Advocates point out that enforcement of existing provisions has already led to documented cases of abuse, social ostracism, and vigilante actions, including a widely reported 2023 incident in Kaolack where a crowd exhumed and desecrated the body of a man suspected of being gay.

In Senegal, where Islam is the dominant religion and traditional values hold significant sway, discussions around sexuality often intersect with broader debates on morality, foreign influence, and national identity. Prime Minister Sonko's presentation of the bill appears to align with longstanding calls from religious leaders and civil society groups for stronger legal measures against homosexuality.

As the proposal heads into parliamentary review, observers anticipate heated debates reflecting the country's deep divisions on the issue. If passed, the law would represent one of the stricter frameworks in the region for same-sex conduct, joining a pattern seen in parts of Africa where governments have moved to reinforce or introduce anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in recent years.

The outcome in the National Assembly remains uncertain, but the government's active role in advancing the bill signals a determined effort to address what some view as a pressing social concern. For now, the proposal deepen ongoing tensions between human rights considerations and prevailing cultural norms in Senegal.