Senegal Doubles Prison Terms for Same-Sex Acts

Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye signed into law on Monday a measure that doubles prison sentences for same-sex relations to up to 10 years and imposes penalties for promoting or financing such activities, escalating restrictions in the West African nation amid an ongoing crackdown on LGBTQ individuals.

The legislation, which appeared in the official journal on Tuesday, punishes what authorities term "acts against nature"—encompassing homosexuality, bisexuality, and transsexuality—with five to 10 years in prison, up from the previous one- to five-year range under a 1966 penal code provision. It also introduces three- to seven-year terms for those convicted of advocating or funding these acts. Fines have risen sharply, from 100,000 to 1.5 million CFA francs (about $165 to $2,500) to 2 million to 10 million CFA francs (about $3,300 to $16,500). Courts are prohibited from issuing suspended sentences or reducing terms below the minimum, and the law mandates the maximum penalty if a minor is involved. Additionally, it criminalizes unfounded accusations of such offenses.

The bill passed the National Assembly on March 11 after hours of debate, with 135 votes in favor, none...