LAGOS, Nigeria — The Senegalese government, led by Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, has initiated a significant legislative push to intensify penalties for same-sex relations. On Tuesday, Sonko presented a bill to parliament that proposes increasing the minimum prison sentence for homosexuality from one year to at least five years.
The proposed legislation aims to expand the legal definition of ‘unnatural acts,’ reinforcing a law that has criminalized homosexuality since the nation gained independence from France in 1960. However, the government has opted not to reclassify the offense from its current status as a misdemeanor to a more serious felony. Prime Minister Sonko defended this decision, stating, ‘We can achieve the intended objectives without going so far as to elevate the acts.’
This legislative action aligns with a key promise from Sonko’s political campaign and arrives amidst reports from domestic human rights organizations of a worsening climate for the LGBTQ community. These groups report a concerning escalation in arrests, with at least a dozen individuals detained in recent weeks on allegations of homosexuality, a trend they say has been ongoing since 2018.
The bill’s passage now rests with the National Assembly, where Sonko’s ruling PASTEF party holds a majority, signaling a high likelihood of the law being enacted and marking a further tightening of restrictions in the conservative West African nation.