Ousmane Sonko Moves to Increase Prison Terms for Same-Sex Acts in Senegal

Ousmane Sonko has proposed increasing prison terms for same-sex relations in Senegal from one–five years to five–10 years. The bill, still awaiting a vote, comes amid recent arrests and pressure from religious groups.

Ousmane Sonko, the Prime Minister of Senegal, on Tuesday presented a new draft law before parliament seeking to significantly increase the penalties for same-sex relations. The proposed legislation would double the current maximum prison sentence for individuals found guilty of engaging in such acts.
In Senegal, a predominantly Muslim and socially conservative country, arrests linked to alleged same-sex relationships occur regularly. Under the existing legal framework, those convicted of what the law describes as acts “against nature” can face prison terms ranging from one to five years.
Addressing members of parliament, Sonko explained that the proposed reform would revise these penalties. According to him, “Anyone committing an act against nature will be punished by five to 10 years' imprisonment,” compared with the current one- to five-year sentence. He reiterated this point during a question-and-answer session in the National Assembly, clarifying that the draft bill seeks to raise the minimum and maximum terms of imprisonment for such offenses.
Before it can take effect, the legislation must be formally introduced for a vote in parliament. However, authorities have not yet announced a specific date for when lawmakers will debate or vote on the measure.
The renewed focus on the issue follows a series of recent arrests involving individuals accused of same-sex acts. Some of those detained are reportedly well-known public figures, drawing heightened public attention and fueling debate within the country.
The state-owned daily newspaper Le Soleil quoted Sonko, who has been serving as prime minister since 2024, as saying that the offense would continue to be classified as a mid-level crime rather than being elevated to the status of a felony. This suggests that while penalties would increase, the legal categorization of the offense would remain unchanged.
The proposed bill addresses both same-sex relations and child sexual abuse, two issues that are frequently discussed together in Senegalese media coverage, although they are legally distinct matters. Sonko emphasized that harsher punishment would apply in cases involving minors. “If the act is committed with a minor, the maximum sentence will be imposed,” he told lawmakers.
He further stated that the bill would amend the country’s penal code to explicitly define “any sexual act or act of a sexual nature between two people of the same sex” as constituting an act against nature under the law.
In recent years, religious organizations and associations in Senegal have organized public demonstrations calling for stricter enforcement of existing laws and for tougher penalties related to same-sex conduct. These advocacy efforts have contributed to sustained public and political pressure surrounding the issue.