Senegal's Prime Minister Proposes 10-Year Jail for Same-Sex Acts

On Tuesday, Senegal's Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko unveiled a legislative proposal to increase the maximum penalty for same-sex relationships from five years to ten years in prison. This bill aims to strengthen the crackdown on what the government describes as acts against nature.

The proposal was presented to the parliament after the National Assembly's approval the previous week, following a series of arrests of individuals accused of sexual offenses, including two local celebrities and a journalist. Sonko emphasized that the bill also addresses sexual acts involving minors, proposing a maximum sentence for such offenses.

The legislation modifies the penal code to classify sexual acts between two people of the same sex as acts against nature. LGBTQ advocacy groups have condemned the bill, viewing it as a tool to impose foreign values and have staged demonstrations in response to the increasing penalties.

The date for a parliamentary vote on the bill has yet to be announced.