By: Isaac Kwabena Boadu Date: 26th February, 2026
Senegal’s government has proposed a new law that would significantly increase prison terms for individuals found guilty of same-sex relations. The bill which was proposed by the country’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and has been approved by the cabinet, would double the maximum prison sentence from 5 to 10 years and impose fines of up to 10 million CFA francs ($18,000; £13,000).
The bill to double the maximum prison term for same-sex relations from 5 to 10 years has been sent to Senegal’s National Assembly where the Prime Minister’s Pastef party controls the majority, but no date has yet been set for the voting.
The proposed law is part of a broader crackdown on LGBT rights in Senegal, where same-sex relationships are already illegal.
The move is part of a regional trend, with several African countries tightening anti-LGBT laws. Uganda, for example, has some of the world’s harshest anti-homosexuality laws, including the death penalty for certain same-sex acts. Other countries, like Burkina Faso and Mali, have introduced similar sanctions against the LGBTQ community.
AFRICAN VOICES INTERNATIONAL, FREEDOM IN AFRICA
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