SENEGAL ASSEMBLY TO DEBATE ON SAME SEX LEGALIZATION

 

Senegal’s National Assembly is expected to hold a debate on Wednesday over a proposed law that would significantly increase the punishment for same-sex relations, raising the maximum jail term to 10 years.

In recent weeks, authorities in the West African country have intensified actions against alleged same-sex relationships. The crackdown has included several arrests and a surge in online harassment, drawing criticism from human rights organisations.

According to an official document from the National Assembly signed on Friday, lawmakers have been called to a plenary session on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, to review the proposed legislation. A vote on such bills is typically conducted on the same day as the debate.

The bill was introduced late last month by Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and addresses an issue that remains highly sensitive in the predominantly Muslim and strongly religious country.

Earlier in February, authorities arrested about 12 men, including two well-known local figures, over allegations of “acts against nature,” a phrase commonly used in the country’s laws to refer to same-sex relations.

Following those arrests, reports from local media indicated that detentions continued almost daily, with at least 30 people reportedly taken into custody. Some arrests were said to have been based on accusations and phone searches, with the identities of several detainees publicly disclosed.

Some of the individuals detained have also been accused of intentionally spreading HIV, further intensifying public debate surrounding same-sex relations.

Beyond increasing the prison terms for people convicted of same-sex relations, the proposed law would also impose penalties on those who advocate for LGBTQ rights, with possible prison sentences ranging from three to seven years.