Senegal anti-LGBT vote signals tougher regional legal turn

Senegal’s National Assembly has passed a bill that doubles the maximum prison sentence for same-sex sexual acts to 10 years and criminalises the “promotion” or financing of homosexuality, marking a major legislative shift in Dakar. The measure now awaits President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s signature.

Beyond Senegal’s domestic politics, the vote stands out as part of a broader regional pattern in which several African states have moved to tighten laws targeting LGBT people and advocacy groups. Reuters reported that lawmakers in Ghana are considering tougher penalties, while it was noted that recent crackdowns elsewhere on the continent have sharpened international scrutiny of such legislation.

The bill fulfils a campaign promise tied to the governing leadership that took power in 2024 and reflects growing pressure from conservative religious and civil society groups inside Senegal. If signed, it would deepen the country’s already restrictive legal framework and reinforce its place in a wider West African debate over rights, public morality, and state power.