Senegal Escalates Anti-Gay Crackdown Amid Growing Persecution
In Senegal, a West African nation where homosexuality is already illegal, the government is taking steps to significantly increase penalties for same-sex conduct, pushing the LGBTQ+ community deeper into fear and hiding. The proposed legislation, which would raise maximum prison sentences from five to ten years, has been ratified by parliament and awaits presidential approval, with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye expected to sign it into law.
Living in Fear: Personal Accounts of Persecution
Interviews with gay individuals in Senegal reveal a climate of intense anxiety. One young man, speaking anonymously at an upscale hotel in Dakar, described being disowned by his family and forced into hiding after police questioned a friend. Born in Touba, a city central to Senegal's Sufi Muslim faith, he now lives with another friend who remains unaware of his secret, a situation becoming increasingly common as crackdowns intensify.
"There's a lot of fear," he told The Associated Press, reflecting the sentiments of many who spoke on condition of anonymity due to fears of retaliation. These accounts, while unable to be independently verified, highlight the human toll of Senegal's hardening stance.
Legal and Political Context: Harsher Penalties Proposed
Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko earlier this year proposed increasing punishments for "unnatural acts," a euphemism for homosexuality in Senegalese law. The law, ratified on March 11, amends Article 319 of the Penal Code, which criminalizes consensual same-sex conduct as "acts against nature." Senegal, a conservative majority-Muslim country, inherited this colonial French penal code, but enforcement was previously sporadic.
Senegal joins over half of African states with anti-homosexuality laws, following Uganda's introduction of the death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality" in recent years. The justice ministry and president's office did not respond to questions about the push for tougher terms, and local analysts refused to comment, citing retaliation fears.
Arrests, Rhetoric, and Mob Violence Escalate
Local media report dozens of arrests since early February, including that of prominent journalist Pape Biram Bigué Ndiaye, later released. Dakar police confirmed several cases under investigation. Human Rights Watch noted intensified anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric, with parliament previously attempting to increase penalties in 2022 and 2024.
Public opposition has turned graphic: in October 2023, in Kaolack, a mob exhumed a man believed to be gay, dragged his body through the streets, and burned it in the town square, an incident that went viral. Protests in February against "intentional transmission of HIV"—a common accusation for any sexual act involving an HIV-positive person—featured anti-gay chants.
Activist Groups Drive the Campaign
The group And Samm Djiko Yi, or "Together for the Preservation of Values," has organized recent protests and led the campaign for longer prison terms. Founder Serigne Ababacar Mboup framed the fight against "the homosexual agenda" as essential, alleging Western and UN pressure on Senegal to accept gay rights.
"Homosexuality is contrary to our customs, our values, and our beliefs," Mboup told the AP. "We are not trying to impose anything on you, so in turn, learn to respect people and their positions, especially on societal issues."
Rights Groups Warn of Deteriorating Situation
Free Senegal, a group helping relocate persecuted LGBTQ+ people, said the situation has worsened. It closed a Dakar safe house in 2025 due to fears neighbors would report it to authorities. A spokesperson cited the rise of homophobic organizations and politicians leveraging anti-gay sentiment for electoral support, alongside funding challenges.
Some individuals flee the country, like one man who escaped to France in 2000 after a documentary on gay rights brought retaliation. Now helping run Free Senegal remotely, his voice broke as he recalled neighbors confronting him and the long-term opposition back home. "I cannot return to Senegal," he said, underscoring the dire circumstances facing Senegal's LGBTQ+ community as crackdowns tighten and fear spreads.
