Senegal Tightens Anti-LGBT Laws with Severe Penalties

Senegal's National Assembly passed a bill increasing penalties for same-sex acts to a 10-year maximum term and criminalizing their promotion. The bill awaits presidential approval, fulfilling a government pledge. The new law reflects tightening anti-LGBT laws across West Africa, with similar moves in Burkina Faso and Ghana.

Senegal's National Assembly has approved a bill significantly increasing the penalties for same-sex sexual acts, extending the maximum prison term to 10 years. The bill, passed by 135 votes to zero with three abstentions, also criminalizes any promotion of homosexuality. It is a crucial step in fulfilling the 2024 campaign promises of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, who now awaits Faye's signature.

Within Senegal's already strict penal code, the previous article set a five-year maximum term for such acts. The new legislation not only doubles this penalty but also imposes fines up to 10 million CFA francs, reflecting a broader trend of tightening anti-LGBT laws in West Africa. Burkina Faso and Ghana are also implementing more stringent measures.

The law represents a clear stance against various sexual identities, associating acts against nature with homosexuality, bisexuality, and more. Supporters, including Imam Babacar Sylla from the And Samm Jikko Yi group, are urging swift action on the bill, arguing it targets what they consider a 'public danger.' Demonstrations and increased arrests highlight the escalated crackdown.