On Wednesday, March 11, Senegalese MPs took another step in strengthening the country's repressive apparatus by adopting a reform of Article 19 of the Penal Code . This text significantly increases the penalties for same-sex relations, in a social climate already marked by numerous arrests.

What changes with the new law

The reform does not simply toughen existing penalties; it also broadens the scope of offenses.

Nature of the offence	Old sentence	New sentence
"Acts against nature"	1 to 5 years in prison	5 to 10 years in prison
Financial fines	Up to 1.5 million FCFA	Up to 10 million FCFA
Apology / Funding	Not specified	3 to 7 years in prison

Legal clarification: The text now clarifies the notion of "act against nature" by explicitly including sexual relations between persons of the same sex.

A chamber committed to reform

The vote took place before a packed assembly, dominated by the ruling party, Pastef (109 out of 165 seats). No voices were raised in favor of decriminalization or leniency.

1. A promise kept: For MP Ismaël Wone (Pastef), this reform responds to a strong expectation of the electorate and aims to protect the country's "models and standards of conduct".
2. An opposition that is demanding more: Some elected officials have criticized the government for not having transformed this offense into a crime , judging the response still too timid.

Discordant voices and concerns

Despite the apparent unanimity on the sanction, independent MP Thierno Alassane Sall qualified the significance of this vote. According to him, this legislative overreach serves as a "diversion" from the deep economic and social crisis that Senegal is experiencing.

Human rights organizations, for their part, are alarmed. They fear that this tightening of legislation will further legitimize violence and exacerbate the climate of hostility towards the LGBTQ+ community in the country.