Senegal Passes Harsh New Anti-LGBTQ+ Law with Up to 10 Years in Prison
Senegal's parliament has approved harsh new legislation doubling the maximum prison sentence for same-sex relations to up to 10 years, in a move that human rights activists say reflects a coordinated and deliberate rollback of civil liberties across West Africa.
The law, which also significantly increases fines, was passed with strong parliamentary support and reflects the position of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye's government, which campaigned in part on socially conservative values after winning office in 2024. Activists warned the legislation will drive LGBTQ+ Senegalese people further underground, exposing them to violence, extortion, and persecution with limited legal recourse.
A Regional Pattern
Senegal's law doesn't exist in isolation. Across Sub-Saharan Africa, several countries have moved to criminalize or more severely penalize same-sex relations in recent years, with Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Act, which includes the death penalty in certain circumstances, being the most extreme example. Analysts at Human Rights Watch describe a concerted effort by conservative religious networks, both Christian and Muslim, to push legislation across the region.
Activists say the Senegalese law is particularly significant because Senegal had long been considered one of West Africa's more stable democracies, with a reputation for political pluralism. The passage of such a law signals that even comparatively open political systems in the region are not immune to these pressures.
Canada's Response
Canada has been among the most vocal countries internationally in opposing anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in Africa and elsewhere. Ottawa has tied aspects of its development assistance to human rights standards and has repeatedly raised these issues in bilateral diplomatic contexts.
The Canadian government issued a statement of concern following the vote, calling on Senegal to uphold its international human rights obligations. Senegal is a recipient of Canadian development aid focused on health, education, and governance.
For LGBTQ+ Senegalese nationals currently living in Canada, including a number in the Ottawa region, the law raises immediate questions about their safety if they return home to visit family or attend to affairs in Senegal. Immigration lawyers in Canada have noted an uptick in inquiries from Senegalese nationals about refugee protection pathways.
Source: DW
