A French national faces detention in Senegal amid toughened anti-LGBTQ+ laws

An engineer in his early 30s from France has been held in Senegalese custody since mid-February on charges including ‘unnatural acts’ and ‘attempted HIV transmission’. The arrest comes as the country intensifies penalties for same-sex relationships, which now carry sentences of up to a decade in prison.

Legal backdrop: Senegal’s escalating anti-LGBTQ+ measures

The engineer’s detention follows the passage of a controversial new law in early March, which broadens criminalization of LGBTQ+ identities. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye signed the legislation into force on March 31, introducing penalties of five to ten years imprisonment for consensual same-sex relations. The move aligns with rising state-backed homophobia and a surge in arrests targeting individuals suspected of homosexuality.

Diplomatic response and consular support

France’s foreign ministry confirmed its embassy in Dakar is closely monitoring the case. Consular officials have conducted multiple visits to the detainee, while maintaining regular contact with his family. The Quai d’Orsay reiterated France’s stance: ‘We uphold the universal principles of human rights, including the decriminalization of homosexuality worldwide and the protection of LGBTQ+ individuals from discrimination.’

Arrest warrant details emerge

According to judicial sources, the engineer was taken into custody on February 14 alongside others during a coordinated crackdown. Charges include not only the newly defined offenses but also money laundering and criminal conspiracy. Authorities allege he attempted to transmit HIV, a claim that has drawn international concern over the politicization of public health.

Senegal, a predominantly Muslim nation, has seen a marked escalation in anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric in recent months. Civil society groups warn that the legal amendments are being used to justify arbitrary detentions and social persecution under the guise of morality.