NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — The ruling military government in Niger has implemented a new criminal code that makes homosexuality illegal, according to an adviser to the justice minister who spoke Friday.
The West African country becomes the most recent nation to outlaw homosexuality, joining similar actions taken by Senegal earlier this year.
Under the new criminal code, anyone who “commits or attempts to commit an immodest or unnatural act or practices lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans-gender, Queer, intersex, Asexual (LGBTQIA+) acts” faces five to ten years behind bars plus financial penalties, based on the official text of the legislation.
“This same penalty is applicable to persons who officiated the marriage, to the witnesses of the alleged spouses, as well as to persons who have given their consent for the celebration of the marriage and to the organizers,” the new penal code said.
Hamidou Julien, an adviser to the justice minister, told The Associated Press on Friday that the legislation became effective Thursday.
While homosexuality had not been against the law in Niger before this change, it faced significant social stigma.
Anti-homosexuality legislation is widespread throughout Africa, with over 30 of the continent’s 54 nations making same-sex relationships illegal. Niger now stands alongside nations such as Senegal, Kenya, Sierra Leone and Tanzania, where punishments can reach 10 years or longer in prison. In Somalia, Uganda and Mauritania, such offenses may result in execution.
