Senegal’s National Assembly is set to deliberate on a proposed law that would significantly increase the punishment for same-sex relations, raising the maximum jail term to 10 years.
The bill is scheduled to be discussed during a plenary session on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, according to an official document from the legislature signed on Friday. Lawmakers typically vote on such proposals on the same day they are debated.
In recent weeks, the West African country has witnessed a tightening crackdown on same-sex relationships. Several arrests have been reported, alongside a surge in online hostility, drawing criticism and concern from human rights organisations.
The legislation was introduced late last month by Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, addressing an issue that remains highly sensitive in Senegal, a predominantly Muslim nation where religious and cultural values strongly influence public opinion.
Earlier in February, authorities arrested about a dozen men, including two well-known local figures, on allegations of engaging in “acts against nature,” a phrase commonly used in the country’s legal framework to describe same-sex relationships.
The arrests appeared to trigger a broader enforcement campaign. Local media reports indicate that at least 30 individuals have been detained in recent weeks, with some arrests reportedly based on accusations or phone searches. Authorities have also publicly disclosed the identities of several suspects.
Some detainees have additionally been accused of intentionally spreading HIV, further intensifying the already heated national debate on same-sex relations.
Beyond increasing prison sentences for same-sex conduct, the proposed law also seeks to criminalise advocacy for LGBTQ rights, with offenders facing between three and seven years behind bars.
