By Ebi Kesiena
The Government of Senegal has adopted a draft law aimed at tightening penalties for same-sex relations, signalling a major shift in the country’s criminal justice policy.
At a meeting of the Council of Ministers, authorities approved amendments to Article 319 of the 1965 Penal Code, which currently addresses what the law describes as “acts against nature.”
In a statement released by the Government Information and Communication Office (BIC-GOUV), officials said the proposed reform seeks not only to increase existing sanctions but also to broaden the scope of the offence to include the “glorification” and “financing” of such acts.
Government spokesperson Marie Faye explained that the amendment forms part of efforts to reinforce the national criminal legal framework. The proposed changes come amid a series of high-profile arrests carried out by the gendarmerie involving individuals accused under the existing provision.
Recent cases have drawn significant public attention, with some media reports linking investigations to allegations of the deliberate transmission of HIV, further intensifying debate around the issue.
The legislative move follows sustained pressure from segments of civil society calling for stricter and more explicit criminalisation of homosexuality, a subject that has dominated national discourse in recent months.
With approval secured at the Council of Ministers, the draft bill will now be transmitted to the National Assembly for debate and possible adoption. If enacted, the amendment would mark one of the most consequential developments in the country’s social and judicial policy landscape in recent years.
