Senegal introduces legislation to boost minimum sentence for homosexuality to 5 years

Senegal’s government has moved to significantly increase penalties for homosexuality, with Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko introducing legislation Tuesday that would quintuple the minimum prison sentence from one year to five years.

The proposed bill aims to strengthen the West African nation’s existing anti-gay laws by expanding the definition of “unnatural acts” under legislation that has criminalized homosexuality since Senegal gained independence from France in 1960.

“We can achieve the intended objectives without going so far as to elevate the acts to the level of more serious crimes,” Sonko said during the parliamentary session, explaining why the legislation maintains homosexuality’s classification as a misdemeanor rather than elevating it to a more serious criminal category.

The legislation represents a fulfillment of one of Sonko’s key campaign promises. With his PASTEF party controlling the National Assembly, the bill is expected to face little opposition as it moves through the legislative process.

Human rights organizations operating in Senegal have raised alarms about the deteriorating situation for LGBTQ+ individuals in the predominantly Muslim nation. According to these groups, at least twelve people have been arrested on allegations of homosexuality in recent weeks alone, highlighting an intensifying crackdown.

Senegal, with a population of approximately 17 million, has long maintained conservative social policies influenced by its religious traditions. The country is roughly 95 percent Muslim, with religious leaders wielding significant cultural and political influence. Public opinion polls consistently show strong support for maintaining or strengthening anti-homosexuality laws.

The proposed legislation comes amid a broader regional trend of tightening restrictions on LGBTQ+ rights across parts of Africa. Neighboring countries including Ghana and Uganda have recently pursued or enacted similar measures strengthening penalties for homosexuality.

International human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have condemned the legislative push, arguing that it violates fundamental rights to privacy and equal protection under international human rights conventions to which Senegal is a signatory.

“This proposed legislation represents a dangerous escalation in Senegal’s persecution of LGBTQ+ individuals,” said a spokesperson for a regional human rights coalition who requested anonymity due to safety concerns. “Increasing penalties from one to five years imprisonment for consensual same-sex relations is extraordinarily harsh and will further drive vulnerable communities underground.”

The economic implications of such legislation remain unclear. Some analysts suggest potential impacts on international development aid and business relationships, as certain Western donors and corporations have increasingly tied assistance and investment to human rights records. However, others note that Senegal’s strategic position in West Africa and its relative political stability may limit such pressures.

Sonko, who became prime minister in March 2024 following his party’s electoral success, has built his political brand on promises to protect traditional values and resist what he characterizes as Western cultural impositions. The anti-homosexuality legislation aligns with his populist positioning and appeals to his conservative base of supporters.

Legal experts note that while the bill increases minimum sentences, it avoids more dramatic measures that some hardliners had advocated for, such as elevating homosexuality to a more serious criminal classification that could have carried potential life imprisonment.

As the legislation moves toward a vote in the National Assembly, diplomatic missions in Dakar are closely monitoring developments, with several Western embassies expected to issue statements of concern. Meanwhile, local LGBTQ+ advocacy groups report that many individuals are increasingly going into hiding or seeking ways to leave the country amid fears of the intensifying crackdown.