Matar Ndiaga Seck, a 51-year-old political figure widely described in local reports as a close associate of Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, has been taken into custody by the Criminal Investigations Division (DIC) in connection with a probe into alleged unnatural acts.
The arrest follows a warrant issued by police in Linguère, a town in the Louga region of northern Senegal. Investigators cite consistent evidence gathered during a broader operation that led to the detention of at least two dozen individuals in the Djoloff area.
At this point, Senegalese authorities have not released specific details about the charges or the current stage of the legal process.
The term unnatural acts refers to Article 319 of Senegal’s Penal Code, which criminalizes same-sex relations. The legislation was further tightened on March 31, 2026, when the government enacted stricter penalties—up to ten years in prison—and expanded the scope of offenses to include promotion of same-sex relationships.
Since the law’s enforcement began, authorities have reportedly carried out over a hundred arrests nationwide. A French national has been held in Senegal since February 14 on similar grounds, and support groups are coordinating legal aid for those detained.
Advocacy organizations have also launched emergency response initiatives to assist individuals facing violence or persecution in Senegal, with the international hotline receiving over 3,000 urgent requests.
