Senegal’s parliament has approved a controversial law that doubles the maximum prison sentence for sexual relations between same-sex couples to 10 years and makes it illegal to “promote” homosexuality.
The bill passed with 135 MPs voting in favour, none against, and three abstaining. It now awaits the president’s signature to become law.
The legislation fulfills campaign promises made by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, and comes after a recent wave of arrests linked to alleged same-sex relationships, which are already banned under Senegalese law.
The United Nations human rights chief, Volker Türk, described the bill as "deeply worrying" and urged the president not to sign it, citing potential violations of internationally protected rights.
Senegal’s government, however, defended the move. Spokesperson Amadou Moustapha Ndieck Sarré said, "The majority of Senegalese do not accept homosexuality. Our culture rejects it and we are firmly opposed to it."
Conservative groups have long advocated for tougher penalties. And Sàmm Jikko Yi, an organisation promoting what it describes as Senegalese moral values, has repeatedly called for stricter laws to criminalise homosexual acts, arguing they are necessary to protect cultural and religious norms.
Rights groups warn the law could worsen discrimination and violence against sexual minorities. Larissa Kojoué, a researcher at Human Rights Watch, said, "Criminalising same-sex conduct and arresting people for their sexual orientation violates multiple internationally protected rights, including equality and non-discrimination." She added that such laws risk exposing already stigmatised individuals to "violence and fear."
Alioune Tine, founder of Afrikajom Center, told the BBC that the new law could heighten social tensions. "If it is true that social concerns must be addressed, [the law] also has to respect human rights and protecting public-health policies."
Experts also point out that criminalising same-sex relationships will not eliminate them. Charles Dotou, head of the Senegal LGBTQ Association and a medical doctor, said, "Most of the same-sex relationships were hidden anyway. There are even people who are married in the society and who are still entertaining a safe-sex relationship because of the norm and the cultural norm in that society."
He warned the law will drive people further into hiding, creating fear and possibly triggering an exodus of those already vulnerable.
"All that will happen is people will be hiding more, it will create more fear and people will be scared to live normally in that community. So there will be an exodus of people, particularly people who were already exposed so that that creates a bit of chaos in society," he added.
The new legislation follows arrests last month of 12 men, including two public figures and a prominent journalist, for alleged same-sex relationships. Rights groups have expressed concern that such measures could escalate human rights violations and deepen social divisions in Senegal.