FILE PHOTO: SENSITIVE MATERIAL. THIS IMAGE MAY OFFEND OR DISTURB. Anti‑LGBT supporters march through the streets during a protest calling for tougher action after authorities detained people for what police said were crimes including same‑sex intercourse and intentional HIV transmission, and about a dozen others, in what police said was a child‑abuse network, in Dakar, Senegal, February 14, 2026. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra/File Photo
A French engineer has been held in Senegal for the past three months on charges linked to his sexual orientation, following the country’s recent legislative crackdown on LGBTQ+ rights.
French national faces harsh penalties under Senegal’s tightened anti-LGBTQ+ laws
Since mid-February, a 30-year-old French citizen residing in Dakar has been in detention, accused of “unnatural acts,” money laundering, and even attempting to transmit HIV. His arrest was part of a broader wave of crackdowns targeting individuals suspected of homosexuality in the West African nation.
The French national, whose identity remains undisclosed, was detained on February 14, 2026, under charges that reflect the country’s increasingly repressive legal environment. The case has drawn close attention from French diplomatic authorities, who have maintained regular consular visits and communication with the detainee’s family.
Diplomatic intervention amid rising homophobia in Senegal
French consular officials in Dakar have confirmed that they are closely monitoring the situation, ensuring the detainee’s rights are upheld under international law. The Quai d’Orsay in Paris has reiterated its stance, emphasizing the importance of human rights and universal equality, including protections for LGBTQ+ individuals.
Senegal’s political leadership has framed the enforcement of stricter anti-LGBTQ+ laws as a reflection of cultural and religious values, a move that has intensified social tensions. The new legislation, adopted in early March and signed into law by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye on March 31, imposes prison sentences ranging from five to ten years for same-sex relationships.
Human rights advocates warn that the legal changes have fueled a climate of fear, with a surge in arrests and public discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals. The French government has publicly condemned the measures, aligning itself with global calls for the decriminalization of homosexuality and the protection of LGBTQ+ rights.
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