Senegal is moving forward with plans to significantly increase penalties for same-sex relations under a draft bill approved by the Council of Ministers on February 18, 2026.
The legislation, which aims to double prison sentences for “unnatural acts” from up to five years to up to ten years, also proposes raising fines from a maximum of 1.5 million CFA francs to 10 million CFA francs.
Under current law, Article 319 of the Senegalese Penal Code already criminalizes homosexual relations with penalties of up to five years in prison and fines ranging from 100,000 to 1.5 million CFA francs. The proposed changes would mark a significant escalation in punishment.
Since February 9, 2026, at least 27 men have been detained on various charges, including “unnatural acts” and “intentional transmission” of HIV, which can carry a sentence of up to ten years in prison under existing statutes.
The draft bill further seeks to criminalize “the promotion of LGBT ideology,” a provision that rights groups say could restrict freedom of expression and association.
Human rights organizations have warned that the legislation violates Senegal’s international and regional human rights commitments. The move comes amid a broader pattern of rising homophobia and stigmatizing rhetoric targeting LGBTQ+ individuals in the country.
President Bassirou Diomaye Faye had previously included the passage of harsher laws against same-sex relations as part of his election campaign. Earlier attempts to strengthen such laws, including a 2021 proposal backed by members of parliament and the collective And Sam Djiko Yi, were not adopted.
The current legislative push has also been criticized for undermining broader efforts to promote gender equality in Senegal, with critics arguing it diverts attention from pressing public health and social challenges.
