Senegal’s president, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, has signed a new law doubling the maximum prison sentence for same-sex relations to 10 years and criminalising the “promotion” of homosexuality.
The legislation, adopted by parliament earlier this month, expands the legal definition of prohibited acts to include “any sexual or sexually charged act between two persons of the same sex”.
Same-sex relations were already illegal in Senegal. The new law follows a wave of arrests and fulfils a campaign promise by President Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko.
This move has sparked controversy and criticism from international human rights groups, while supporters argue it's necessary to protect social and cultural values.
