Senegal Charges 71 Men Amid Escalating Crackdown on Homosexuality

Judicial authorities in Senegal have charged 71 men with “unnatural acts” following a widespread law enforcement crackdown, according to statements released by the public prosecutor’s office.

The formal charges were brought before a court after a preliminary investigation, while charges against 28 other defendants were dismissed entirely. Related charges concerning “endangering the lives of others” and “willful transmission of HIV/AIDS” were also dropped against the remaining individuals.

The judicial actions follow legislation passed in March that doubled penalties for homosexual relations, establishing prison terms ranging from five to ten years. In recent months, authorities have detained over 100 individuals across the country as part of an intensified enforcement campaign.

Public Prosecutor Saliou Dicko confirmed that charges were also dropped against a foreign national—a French engineer in his thirties residing in Dakar who had been detained since February. However, the prosecutor’s office has filed an appeal against that specific dismissal.

The developments reflect a broader regional trend, as several West African nations continue to enact and enforce stricter legal frameworks criminalizing same-sex relations.