In Senegal, government backs new law to raise jail term for same-sex relations to 10yrs
Senegal’s government has backed proposed changes to the penal code that would double the maximum prison term for same-sex relations to 10 years, as a recent wave of arrests and intense media coverage puts LGBTQ+ issues back in the spotlight.
Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko told lawmakers that under the draft legislation, “Anyone committing an act against nature will be punished by five to 10 years’ imprisonment,” up from the current one to five years.
The bill still requires a vote in the National Assembly, but Sonko’s party controls parliament.
Sonko said the government could toughen penalties without reclassifying the offence as a more serious crime. “We can achieve the intended objectives without going so far as to elevate the acts,” he said.
The proposed amendments also relate to child sexual abuse, an issue that campaigners say is often conflated with same-sex relations in public debate. Sonko told lawmakers, “If the act is committed with a minor, the maximum sentence will be imposed.”
Rights groups have warned that conditions for LGBTQ+ people have worsened in recent years. Human Rights Watch said the detention of 12 men in Dakar in February on charges including “acts against nature” has heightened fears and stigma, particularly amid sensational media coverage.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
