Ousmane Sonko, Prime Minister of Senegal, unveiled a draft bill that aimed to double prison terms for same-sex relations. He presented the legislation during a session in the National Assembly. This move followed a wave of arrests under existing laws.
Legislative Announcement
Sonko addressed lawmakers and pushed for support across parties. He stated, “Those in the opposition who are stirring things up will go to their Western masters and say, look how bad they are. They are repressing homosexuals. They don’t even believe what they are saying.” Additionally, he urged unity on the issue.
Details of the Proposed Bill
The bill redefined unnatural acts explicitly. Sonko explained, “Any sexual act or act of a sexual nature between two people of the same sex constitutes an act against nature.” It increased sentences from one to five years to five to ten years.
Furthermore, the proposal imposed the maximum penalty for acts involving minors. Sonko declared, “If the act is committed with a minor, the maximum sentence will be imposed.” The legislation also targeted advocacy with three to seven years in prison.
Recent Arrests and Context
Authorities arrested 12 men in Dakar on charges including acts against nature. This incident sparked media coverage and protests. Meanwhile religious groups demanded stricter measures, which Sonko had promised during his campaign. Previous attempts in 2021 and 2024 to toughen laws failed.
Reactions from Human Rights Groups
Human Rights Watch condemned the proposal. Larissa Kojoue, a researcher at Human Rights Watch, warned that changes exposed people to further violence.
She stated, “The changes would expose stigmatized individuals to further violence and fear.” The group urged repeal of discriminatory laws. However no vote date emerged for the bill.
