Senegal court sentences man to six years under new anti-homosexuality law

Wednesday 15 April 2026 - 08:30

A court in Dakar has sentenced a young man to six years in prison for what authorities described as an “act against nature,” marking the first known conviction since Senegal adopted a stricter law criminalizing same-sex relations.

The ruling follows the passage of new legislation earlier in March, which significantly increases penalties for homosexual acts. The law was officially enacted at the end of the month by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, introducing prison sentences ranging from five to ten years, along with heavier financial penalties.

According to judicial sources, the individual was arrested in early April in a suburb of the capital after being discovered in a private setting with another man. The case reflects a broader tightening of legal measures and enforcement in the country.

Senegal, where the majority of the population identifies as Muslim, has long maintained laws criminalizing same-sex relations. However, the recent reform has drawn increased attention due to harsher punishments and a rise in reported arrests.

Human rights observers have expressed concern over the implications of the new legislation, pointing to a growing climate of hostility and legal pressure against individuals accused of homosexuality. The updated law also introduces fines ranging from several thousand to tens of thousands of euros, significantly higher than previous penalties.

The case is seen as a test of how the new legal framework will be applied in practice. Critics argue that such measures risk further restricting individual freedoms and could lead to increased stigmatization, while authorities defend the law as consistent with societal norms and values.