Anti-LGBTQ+ laws increase in West Africa as Senegal and Niger tighten penalties

Activists in West Africa warn that politicians are using LGBTQ+ individuals as “the easiest scapegoats to maintain their power,” as a wave of anti‑LGBTQ+ legislation spreads across the region. In March, Senegal passed a law that doubled the maximum prison term for consensual gay sex to ten years and criminalised any “promotion” of homosexuality, while Niger followed in February with its first statute outlawing “sexual relations with a person of the same sex.” Both measures reflect mounting domestic political pressure and a broader global backlash against LGBTQ+ rights.

Human‑rights groups say the new statutes signal an intensifying trend in which governments tighten restrictions on sexual minorities to consolidate authority and deflect criticism. The legal changes in Senegal and Niger join similar moves in other West African nations, raising concerns about the region’s compliance with international human‑rights standards. Observers note that the legislation could lead to increased persecution, limiting advocacy and support for LGBTQ+ communities while reinforcing a climate of fear and marginalisation.