At the age of 51, Matar Ndiaga Seck—a prominent political figure often described as a close ally of Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko—has been taken into custody by the Criminal Investigations Division (DIC) amid allegations of « acts against public decency ».
The arrest follows a search warrant issued by police in Linguère, a town in the Louga region of northern Senegal. Investigators claim to have gathered substantial evidence connecting Seck to a case involving at least two dozen individuals detained in the Djoloff area.
As of now, Senegalese authorities have not disclosed detailed accounts of the charges or the current status of the legal proceedings. The vague phrasing of « acts against public decency » points to Article 319 of the Senegalese Penal Code, which criminalizes same-sex relations.
Adding to the legal pressure, Senegal enforced a stricter anti-homosexuality law on March 31, 2026. The updated legislation expands penalties for same-sex conduct to up to ten years imprisonment and broadens the scope of offenses, including the « promotion » of such relationships.
Since the law’s implementation, reports indicate over a hundred arrests nationwide. Among those detained is a French national, held since February 14 in a comparable case. Support organizations are actively assisting his legal defense.
Advocacy groups have also launched emergency response initiatives for individuals facing persecution in Senegal, with their international hotline receiving over 3,000 urgent calls for support.