A court in Senegal has delivered the first conviction under a new law that increases penalties for same-sex relationships, marking a significant development in the country’s tightening stance on LGBTQ+ rights.
The ruling was issued by a court in Pikine-Guédiawaye, a suburb of Dakar, where a 24-year-old labourer was sentenced on Friday to six years in prison. The court also imposed a fine of two million CFA francs, roughly $3,300, after finding him guilty of “acts against nature and public indecency.”
The man had been arrested earlier this month.
Senegal recently strengthened its laws against same-sex relations. On March 31, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye signed legislation that doubles the maximum penalty for same-sex relations from five years to ten years in prison.
The law also introduces criminal sanctions for individuals accused of promoting or financing same-sex relationships.
The legislation was passed earlier by the National Assembly of Senegal with overwhelming support from lawmakers.
International rights groups have criticised the new measures. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, described the legislation as “deeply worrying,” saying it contradicts fundamental human rights protections.
Human Rights Watch researcher Larissa Kojoué said the law has created an atmosphere of fear among LGBTQ+ individuals in the country.
According to Kojoué, arrests have become more aggressive since the law was introduced because authorities now feel they have stronger legal backing.
Local media outlets have reported dozens of arrests linked to Senegal’s anti-LGBTQ+ legislation since February, raising concerns among activists and international observers about the growing crackdown.
The development places Senegal among several African nations that have recently adopted stricter laws targeting the LGBTQ+ community.
