Penalties for homosexual acts in Sénégal have recently been intensified. A French citizen has been held in custody in the country since February 14, facing charges that include “unnatural acts.”

The individual, a French national, was apprehended on February 14, 2026, on accusations of “unnatural acts,” criminal association, money laundering, and attempted HIV transmission. This arrest occurred during a broader sweep of detentions.

The detained individual is an engineer, approximately thirty years old, who resides in Dakar.

Rising homophobia

Our embassy in Dakar is closely monitoring the situation concerning our compatriot. Our consulate has conducted four visits to provide consular protection and maintains regular communication with the individual’s family, as do the relevant services at the Quai d’Orsay in Paris.

Sénégal, a predominantly Muslim nation, officially adopted new legislation in early March that now mandates prison sentences ranging from five to ten years for homosexual relations. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye formally promulgated this law on March 31.

This legislative change unfolds against a backdrop of increasing homophobia across the country and a series of arrests targeting individuals suspected of homosexuality. Same-sex relationships are largely viewed as a deviation in Sénégal, and the intensification of their repression has been a longstanding and politically potent pledge by the current ruling administration.

France reaffirms its commitment to the universal and indivisible respect for human rights, as well as its dedication to the global decriminalization of homosexuality, the defense of LGBT+ individuals’ rights, and the fight against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.