- A French national has been held in detention in Senegal since February 14, facing charges including “acts against nature.”
- Senegal significantly strengthened its legislation in March, making same-sex relations punishable by up to ten years in prison.
- The French Embassy in Dakar is closely monitoring the evolving situation regarding its citizen.
A French citizen has been incarcerated in Senegal for two months now. He was apprehended on February 14, facing serious allegations including “acts against nature,” criminal conspiracy, money laundering, and attempted HIV transmission. This arrest occurred amidst a broader crackdown and a surge of homophobia across the nation, leading to numerous detentions based on suspected homosexuality.
UN denounces law as a “violation” of human rights
In March, Senegal intensified its legal framework targeting same-sex relationships, now imposing penalties ranging from five to ten years in prison. This heightened enforcement was recently exemplified by the six-year sentence handed down in April to a young Senegalese man, who was found engaging in a sexual act with another man in a Dakar suburb. Regarding the detained French national, our embassy in Dakar is diligently monitoring his circumstances. Consular officials have conducted four visits to him, ensuring his protection, and maintain close communication with his family, a practice also upheld by the Quai d’Orsay in Paris.
In Senegal, a predominantly Muslim nation, same-sex relations are widely viewed as a deviation. The government’s increased repression of these relationships fulfills a long-standing political pledge by the ruling party. Upon its enactment by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, publicly condemned the legislation, asserting that it “violates” fundamental human rights.
A spokesperson for the Quai d’Orsay, France’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, previously voiced profound concern regarding the escalated penalties for LGBT+ individuals in Senegal and the introduction of new offenses criminalizing the advocacy or funding of homosexuality. France reiterates its steadfast commitment to the universal and indivisible respect for human rights. It also reaffirms its dedication to the global decriminalization of homosexuality, the protection of LGBT+ rights, and the ongoing fight against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.