BBC: Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has signed a new law doubling to 10 years the maximum prison term for sexual acts by same-sex couples.
The new law also criminalises the "promotion" of homosexuality, which includes any public representation and financial support by individuals or organisations, and provides for three to seven years in prison for those found guilty.
The legislation was a campaign promise of President Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and was approved by parliament last month.
UN rights chief Volker Türk has described it as "deeply worrying", saying that the anti-LGBT legislation "flies in the face of sacrosanct human rights".
The UN official and rights groups had urged the president not to sign it into law, but the government dismissed the international criticism, arguing that the measures reflected the views of Senegalese people.
It was taken to parliament after a wave of arrests over alleged same sex relationships, which were already banned under Senegalese law. » | Nicolas Negoce and Basillioh Rukanga | Wednesday, April 1, 2026
