On Wednesday, Senegal's parliament voted overwhelmingly in favor of a new law that effectively doubles the prison sentence for same-sex relations from five years to ten years. The legislation passed with 135 votes in favor, no opposition, and three abstentions, signaling strong governmental support for these measures. This law represents a significant step in the country's ongoing campaign against LGBTQ+ rights and aligns with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko's 2024 campaign promises to promote stricter anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.

The new law builds on existing legislation that has been in place for some time, commonly referred to as targeting 'acts against nature' in Senegal's penal code. By criminalizing the promotion of homosexuality, the law introduces severe financial penalties that have increased substantially from 1.5 million CFA francs ($2,500) to a staggering 10 million CFA francs ($17,700). Activists have expressed concern that this legal change not only criminalizes same-sex relations more harshly but also contributes to a culture of discrimination and violence against LGBTQ+ individuals in the region.

The approval of this law is viewed as part of a larger trend across Africa, where several countries have enacted increasingly severe anti-LGBTQ+ laws in recent years. Activists warn that such legislative moves pose serious implications for the human rights of LGBTQ+ individuals in Senegal and throughout the continent, as these laws embolden anti-LGBT sentiments and violence. The next step for this legislation is to receive the president's signature to become law, which many are closely watching, given the implications it holds for civil rights in Senegal.