Dakar, Senegal — Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has signed a controversial new law that more than doubles the maximum prison term for same-sex sexual acts to 10 years. The law also penalizes the “promotion “of homosexuality, including public displays and financial support for LGBTQ+ activities, with sentences ranging from three to seven years. This legislation, a key campaign promise by both President Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, was approved by the National Assembly in March.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has expressed his alarm over the law, characterizing it as a disregard for fundamental human rights. Despite international condemnation and appeals from human rights organizations, the Senegalese government stands firm, asserting that the measures reflect the will of the nation. The law comes in the wake of a rise in arrests over alleged same-sex relationships, including the February detention of 12 men, among them two public figures and a journalist.
Human Rights Watch has noted a growing hostility towards the LGBTQ+ community in Senegal, highlighting failed attempts by MPs to escalate penalties against same-sex relationships in recent years.
Senegal’s new law echoes a trend in several African countries, where similar anti-LGBTQ+ measures have been introduced. Burkina Faso, Mali, Uganda, and Ghana have all passed or are considering legislation that threatens the rights and safety of LGBTQ+ individuals.
Source: BBC Africa
