- A French national has been held in Sénégal since February 14, facing charges that include “unnatural acts.”
- The nation strengthened its laws against homosexual relations in March, with penalties now extending up to ten years in prison.
- The French Embassy in Dakar is closely monitoring the situation.
A French citizen has been incarcerated in Sénégal for two months. This individual was apprehended on February 14, 2026, facing accusations of “unnatural acts, criminal association, money laundering, and attempted HIV transmission.” This arrest occurred during a broader sweep of detentions. The incarceration unfolds amidst a climate of heightened homophobia across the country, marked by a series of arrests targeting individuals suspected of homosexuality.
UN asserts the law “violates” human rights
In March, Sénégal intensified its legal framework against homosexual relations, making them punishable by imprisonment ranging from five to ten years. A recent case saw a young Senegalese man sentenced to six years in prison in April after being discovered in a sexual act with another man in a Dakar suburb. Our diplomatic mission in Dakar is diligently following the circumstances of our detained compatriot. The consulate has conducted four visits to provide consular protection and maintains consistent communication with the individual’s family, a connection also upheld by the Quai d’Orsay in Paris.
In Sénégal, a predominantly Muslim nation, same-sex relations are frequently viewed as a deviation. The reinforcement of these repressive measures has been a long-standing political commitment of the current government, resonating strongly within the country’s political landscape. Upon its enactment by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, vehemently denounced the law, stating it “violates” fundamental human rights.
The French Foreign Ministry spokesperson previously voiced deep concern regarding the more stringent penalties imposed on LGBT+ individuals in Sénégal, alongside the introduction of new offenses related to the advocacy or funding of homosexuality’s promotion. France reaffirms its steadfast commitment to the universality and indivisibility of human rights, its dedication to the global decriminalization of homosexuality, the protection of LGBT+ individuals’ rights, and the ongoing struggle against discrimination rooted in sexual orientation and gender identity.
