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A newly enacted law in Senegal has created an atmosphere of fear. Since March 11, when the Senegalese parliament adopted a law intensifying penalties for homosexual relationships, the international helpline of the French organization Stop Homophobie has been inundated with calls from Senegal. This legislative move has sparked significant concern among affected individuals, many of whom are now seeking to flee the country. This development is part of a broader regression in LGBT rights across Africa.

Political Rhetoric Heightening Anxiety

“Homosexuals will no longer breathe in this country.” This statement from a Senegalese MP, made on Wednesday, March 11, exemplifies the harsh political climate surrounding this issue. The Senegalese parliament overwhelmingly passed a law that doubles the sentences for homosexual relations, which detractors label as deviant and as a Western influence undermining local values. Offenders could face five to ten years in prison.

Senegal on the Verge of Joining the Continent’s Most Repressive Nations

If this legislation is implemented, Senegal could join Nigeria and Uganda as one of Africa’s strictest states regarding LGBT+ people. On the ground, the change has ignited a fresh wave of fear among many homosexuals, who are now trying to find a way to escape the country. In France, Stop Homophobie directly witnesses this increased distress as their international helpline is flooded with calls from Senegal. The organization forwards cases to the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, admitting that there is currently no universal or immediate solution to the crisis.

Surge in Helpline Calls

A barrage of numbers bearing the +221 country code fills the association’s phone log, with more than forty waiting for a response. To manage this sudden increase in requests for assistance, Stop Homophobie is training new volunteers to support as many individuals as possible.

Hasty Departures to Transit Countries

One caller recently left Senegal and contacted the association from Nouakchott, Mauritania, which has become a transit point for many Senegalese homosexuals on the run. “I fled after receiving a message saying someone close to me had been arrested,” he explains.

A Sense of Imminent Danger

“I knew that sooner or later, if I stayed, they would come for me.” This testimony reflects the fear of being identified, arrested, or betrayed. Many young men describe their lives as dominated by anxiety and secrecy.

Narratives Filled with Fear, Isolation, and Suicidal Thoughts

On the line, many callers confide in Inès Sanoussi, a lead volunteer, sharing their suicidal thoughts, death threats received, and fear of imprisonment. Some fear that police will scrutinize their phones to identify friends, leading to further arrests. “Since the announcement of the law’s tightening, people have been alarmed, eager to leave Senegal,” she observes. “They are very afraid, feeling that an arrest could happen at any moment. They are removing themselves from apps, cutting ties with others in the LGBT community, and some are even scared to access their HIV treatment.”

Pre-existing Distress Intensified by Legislative Crackdown

When volunteers inquire, “How are you?” responses often mask profound suffering: “It’s a bit complicated.” This statement hides deep pain. Callers share that they’ve been living in hiding for years under a long-standing climate of fear. The legislative tightening did not create this terror but significantly amplified it.

Few Concrete Solutions for Those in Danger

In response to this situation, actionable support remains limited. Stop Homophobie can alert the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about certain cases and occasionally offer shelter, but acknowledges a lack of universal solutions to this urgent issue. For insights into political and social developments, the LGBT News section helps contextualize this crisis within a broader international setting.

The Journey of Souleymane, an Asylum Seeker Hosted in France

The organization also assists Senegalese asylum seekers, including Souleymane, who arrived a few months ago. “My partner and I suffered an attack that resulted in his death,” he recounts. “During a scuffle, he was stabbed. It was horrific. That’s when I realized that security was non-existent. After his death, my family threatened me, saying, ‘If you don’t change, you’re next.’”

A Political Climate Fuelling Violence

In Senegal, the current political atmosphere seems to embolden hostile actions against LGBT individuals, to the extent that some feel justified in committing acts of violence themselves. For associations and witnesses, the passage of this law marks a significant rupture: post-adoption, fear shifted to despair for part of the affected community.

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