A severe escalation in state-led hostility against LGBTQ+ individuals in Senegal has resulted in more than 320 arrests since February, according to a report from Human Rights Watch. The detained individuals face allegations of committing acts against nature, a charge that has gained renewed focus following legislative changes earlier this year. Arrests of men and women have happened all over the country.
On March 11, the Senegalese parliament approved amendments to the national penal code, effectively doubling the maximum prison sentence for consensual same-sex relations to 10 years. The
Of those arrested, at least 84 individuals have been specifically charged with voluntary HIV transmission. Advocates argue these charges are baseless, noting that many detainees had either only learned of their status upon arrest, were in possession of condoms, or were already undergoing medical treatment that rendered the virus untransmittable.
Larissa Kojoué, a rights researcher, stated that the community is being forced to restrict basic activities out of a mounting fear of arrest and intense social stigmatization. The crackdown has been further compounded by police practices that leak confidential information, including medical records, to the media, leading to threats, family rejection, and public shaming for those targeted. Third-party allegations or raids on private premises, the police say they have arrested people based on information extracted from seized phones. They are shooting themselves in the foot.”.
The impact of this campaign extends to public health, where clinicians are observing a troubling decline in HIV service attendance. Experts warn that as fear takes hold, people are avoiding essential testing and treatment. This trend threatens to reverse Senegal’s progress in fighting the virus; between 2010 and 2022, the nation saw a 49% decrease in new infections, but current policies are now jeopardizing these gains. Sub-Saharan Africa remains disproportionately affected by the virus, with 64% of all people living with HIV globally, while there was a 49% fall in new HIV infections in western and central Africa from 2010 to 2022. According to sylvie Beaumont, a consultant with HIV Justice Network,, She had received anecdotal evidence that HIV clinics had seen a drop in attendance. “Obviously this is not good for the HIV response because people are going without treatment, they’re not going to get tested,” she said.
The legal environment has also created a chilling effect within the professional sphere. According to reports, many legal practitioners are now reluctant to defend those accused for fear of facing their own prosecution. Consequently, many in the LGBTQ+ community have been left without legal counsel, while others have chosen to go into hiding, relocate, or flee the country entirely.
The current government’s stance marks a significant shift in political rhetoric. During the 2024 presidential campaign, current leader Bassirou Diomaye Faye and former prime minister Ousmane Sonko framed the strengthening of anti-same-sex laws as a national priority. While same-sex activity has been outlawed since 1965, the recent legislative overhaul reflects a broader, more punitive trend sweeping across sub-Saharan Africa.
Across the region, Niger has begun arresting individuals following the criminalization of same-sex relations in February, a first in the country’s history. Similar shifts have occurred in Burkina Faso and Mali, both under military rule. Meanwhile, in Ghana, new legislation targeting LGBTQ+ activities passed in May, and in 2023, Uganda introduced an Anti-Homosexuality Act that allows for the death penalty. The new law introduced penalties of up to seven years in prison and a fine of 500,000 to 5m CFA francs (£650–£6,500) for promoting homosexuality, or supporting or financing LGBTQ+ people and organisations. The bill, which has not been signed into law by the president, is the latest iteration of legislation first proposed in 2021. All three are ruled by military juntas.
Rights groups maintain that the ongoing crackdown violates fundamental human rights, including the right to privacy, non-discrimination, and access to a fair trial. Despite these international and domestic legal obligations, the situation remains dire as individuals across Senegal continue to face systemic threats to their safety and health.
