“Being gay in Senegal means hiding or living in fear”: surge in calls for help to flee to France
Report Since Senegal doubled prison sentences for same-sex relations in March, distress calls from LGBTQ+ individuals seeking to escape have surged. Organizations like Stop Homophobie, SOS Homophobie, and Le Refuge have intensified their support efforts.
Cherif* arrived in France in early June with one overriding thought: he could no longer stay in Senegal. “I was going to get arrested,” he admits. For weeks after a man he knew was detained, fear consumed him. “As soon as I read about it in the news, all I could think about was fleeing.”
The case hit close to home. The arrested man was reportedly a close associate of Ousmane Sonko, Senegal’s former Prime Minister and now National Assembly President, who championed the controversial law increasing prison sentences for same-sex relations from five to ten years, passed on March 11. Local media reported multiple arrests of alleged partners.
“I knew the police would search his phone and find compromising messages linking me to him,” Cherif confides. “I deleted every message, photo, and shred of evidence of my secret life.”
An atmosphere of growing hostility
In Senegal, he says, the climate has become suffocating. At home, in the streets, on television, and across social media, “everyone was talking about homosexuals,” and hate speech spread unchecked. “They corrupt the youth, they destroy the fabric of society,” echoed through conversations, reinforcing a climate of intolerance.
From hidden lives to desperate escapes
Cherif is one of many LGBTQ+ Senegalese now seeking refuge abroad. Since the law’s passage, organizations supporting LGBTQ+ rights report a sharp rise in calls for help, particularly from those fearing arrest or family rejection. Survival often means living in secrecy or fleeing entirely.
The new legal reality has stripped away any remaining tolerance. Where LGBTQ+ individuals once navigated life with caution, the risks have now multiplied. “Before, you could survive by staying invisible. Now, even that isn’t safe,” explains a local activist who requested anonymity.
A call for international solidarity
The surge in distress calls has prompted French LGBTQ+ support groups to coordinate more closely with their Senegalese counterparts. While France offers asylum pathways, the process remains complex and uncertain for many. For those who make it out, the journey is just the beginning of a new struggle.