Senegal’s government has taken steps to strengthen its anti-homosexuality laws, with Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko presenting new legislation to parliament on Tuesday that would significantly increase prison sentences for gay individuals in the West African country.
The proposed bill would raise the minimum prison term from the current one-year sentence to five years behind bars. Additionally, the legislation aims to expand what constitutes illegal behavior under existing laws that have prohibited homosexuality since Senegal gained independence from France in 1960. However, the crimes would remain classified as misdemeanors rather than being upgraded to more serious offenses.
“We can achieve the intended objectives without going so far as to elevate the acts” to the level of more serious crimes, Sonko explained.
According to advocacy organizations operating in Senegal, conditions for LGBTQ+ individuals have worsened significantly since 2018. These groups report that authorities have detained at least twelve people in recent weeks on charges related to homosexuality.
The proposed changes represent the fulfillment of a pledge Sonko made during his political campaign. The bill must now receive approval from the National Assembly, where Sonko’s PASTEF political party holds majority control.
