DAKAR — Senegalese authorities have detained at least 320 individuals on allegations of "acts against nature" since February, according to a new report by Human Rights Watch. The arrests are part of an intensifying crackdown targeting LGBTQ+ people across the country.
The report, citing the HIV Justice Network, details that at least 84 individuals were charged with "voluntary HIV transmission" based solely on their HIV status.
This escalation follows amendments to Senegal's penal code on March 11, when parliament voted to double the maximum prison term for consensual same-sex relations to 10 years. The legislation also introduced penalties for promoting homosexuality or supporting LGBTQ+ people and organizations, carrying prison sentences of up to seven years and fines ranging from 500,000 to 5 million CFA francs (about £650 to £6,500).
Larissa Kojoué, an LGBTQ+ rights researcher at Human Rights Watch, said LGBTQ+ people are restricting their normal activities due to fear of arrest and heightened stigma. "The Senegalese government should halt this crackdown, which threatens fundamental rights for everyone," Kojoué said.
Same-sex sexual activity has been criminalized in Senegal since 1965. Hostility toward LGBTQ+ individuals intensified in recent years, particularly during the 2024 presidential campaign, when President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko both pledged to strengthen laws criminalizing same-sex relations.
Police have conducted arrests of both men and women across the country. Authorities said they are based on information extracted from seized phones, third-party allegations and raids on private premises.
The penal code changes have created a chilling effect among legal professionals. Lawyers expressed fear of being prosecuted themselves if they represent individuals accused under the new provisions, according to the Human Rights Watch report.
Doctors told Human Rights Watch that the legislative changes are discouraging people from seeking HIV testing and treatment. Sylvie Beaumont, a consultant with HIV Justice Network, reported anecdotal evidence of declining attendance at HIV clinics. She said that Senegal had previously made strong progress in its HIV response. "This is self-sabotage," Beaumont said.
