Senegal gays

The political activist and the preacher were arrested two weeks ago after posting a video attacking Mr Sonko for giving a platform to Jean-Luc Mélenchon, a far-left French politician.

Mr Mélenchon gave his opinion about same-sex marriages at a student forum in the capital, Dakar, in mid-May.

His comments reportedly sparked boos from the audience at Cheikh Anta Diop University.

In response Mr Sonko said that Western countries should demonstrate restraint on social matters such as LGBTQ rights as it could "lead to anti-Western sentiment".

Senegal would continue to manage issues around homosexuality in accordance with its socio-cultural norms, the prime minister said.

He was quoted as saying that homosexuality was "not accepted, but tolerated" in Senegal.

Mr Sonko, a former firebrand opposition chief, was appointed prime minister in April after his ally Bassirou Diomaye Faye was elected president.

They were freed from prison not prolonged before the vote in an amnesty aimed at calming months of political turmoil after the outgoing president had tried to postpone the election.

The pair campaigned on a promise o

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Last updated: 28 July 2025

Types of criminalisation

• Criminalises LGBT people
• Criminalises sexual activity between males
• Criminalises sexual activity between females

Summary

Same-sex sexual activity is prohibited under the Penal Code 1965, which criminalises ‘unnatural acts’. This provision carries a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment. Both men and women are criminalised under this law.

In 1960, Senegal officially gained independence from France, which had long since decriminalised same-sex sexual activity. As such the criminalising statute is of local start, having been adopted in the 1965 Penal Code.

There is substantial evidence of the law being enforced in recent years, with LGBT people being frequently subject to arrest and arbitrary detention where they are vulnerable to torture. There have been consistent reports of discrimination and violence against LGBT people in recent years, including murder, assault, mob attacks, harassment, and threats.

Law and

According to recent survey data, underlying homophobic beliefs appear to be highly prevalent in Senegal, signaling a hostile environment for LGBTQ+ people.

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History

Homosexual outing in Senegal

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Homosexual task in Senegal is illegal (imprisonment as punishment).

Current status

Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)

Article 319 of the Senegal's Penal Code states "Without prejudice to the more solemn penalties provided for in the preceding paragraphs or by articles 320 and 321 of this Code, whoever will have committed an improper or unnatural act with a person of the same sex will be punished by imprisonment of between one and five years and by a fine of 100,000 to 1,500,000 francs. If the act was involved with a person below the age of 21, the maximum penalty will always be applied."

Censorship of LGBT issues in Senegal

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Censorship of LGBT issues in Senegal is imprisonment as punishment.

Current status

Imprisonment as punishmentfederal law

Under Article 256 of Senegals Penal Code, anyone involved in manufacturing, holding, impo

SENEGAL / SÉNÉGAL- Fatou Kiné Camara, la femme qui demande la légalisation de l'homosexualité au Sénégal (2010, Translation) (Alternate Link, Translation). - Homosexualité au Sénégal: Homosexualité : Le Sénégal face au dilemme de la dépénalisation (2009, Translation).- Sénégal : les homosexuels traqués (2008, Translation): Plusieurs personnes ont été entendues, lundi, par la police sénégalaise après que des menaces de morts ont été proférées contre Mansour Dieng, le directeur de publication du magazine people « Icône ». Lors d’un précédent numéro, le journal avait dénoncé la pratique de l’homosexualité. - Sénégal: "Homophobie et exploitation politique de l’Islam" (2008, Translation).- Sénégal : libération des 24 hommes interpellés pour « activités homosexuelles » (2009, Translation): La police sénégalaise a relâché, vendredi

Gay Muslim men living with HIV in Senegal are being persecuted and state shame, violence and isolation

Gay Muslim men living with HIV in Dakar face persecution such as violence and incarceration due to their sexuality. Many are socially isolated, often because of religious or political factors, despite queer relationships being historically acceptable. Researchers at the University of Rochester in the US and the University Cheikh Anta Diop in Senegal aimed to investigate the impact that the combination of these other forms of stigma had on these men and their lived experiences.

In Senegal 90% of the population identify as Muslim and faith has a robust influence on social norms. Although less than 1% of the population hold HIV, in gay men the rate of infection is 28%. This examine concluded that the difference in HIV rates between these communities needs to be addressed by reducing stigma and involving political and religious leaders in the process. However, Sharia law condemns homosexuality and stigma is fuelled by media perceptions, so this is no easy task.

Interviews of 30 gay Muslim men living with HIV in Dakar, aged between 18 and 55 were conducted by a multi-lingua