The parliament of Senegal on Wednesday approved legislation that doubles the maximum penalty for same-sex relations, raising the potential prison term to 10 years as authorities intensify a crackdown on the country’s LGBTQ community.

The bill, passed by an overwhelming majority in the National Assembly of Senegal, must now be signed into law by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye.

Under the proposed law, so-called “acts against nature”—a term commonly used in the country’s penal code to refer to same-sex relations—would carry prison sentences of five to 10 years, compared with the previous penalty of one to five years. The legislation also introduces three to seven years in prison for individuals found guilty of promoting or financing same-sex relationships.

Lawmakers approved the measure after several hours of debate, with 135 votes in favor, none opposed, and three abstentions.

The bill comes amid a wave of arrests under existing anti-LGBTQ laws. Local media have reported that dozens of men have been detained since February, beginning with the arrest of 12 men—including two local celebrities—by police earlier this year.

Reports indicate that some arrests have followed public accusations and searches of suspects’ mobile phones, with the names of those detained often made public. The new legislation also includes provisions penalizing individuals who accuse others of same-sex offenses without evidence.

During the parliamentary debate, lawmaker Diaraye Ba said the legislation would end what she described as tolerance for homosexuality in the country, a remark that drew applause from some colleagues.

The bill stipulates that maximum penalties would apply if the offense involves a minor. It also significantly increases financial penalties, raising fines to between two million and 10 million CFA francs (about $3,500 to $17,600), compared with the previous range of 100,000 to 1.5 million CFA francs.

Some detainees have also faced accusations of deliberately transmitting HIV, adding to an already heated public debate over same-sex relations.

LGBTQ issues have become increasingly contentious in Senegal in recent years. In the predominantly Muslim West African nation, advocacy for gay rights is often criticized by political and religious leaders as an attempt by Western countries to impose foreign social values.

Religious organizations have staged demonstrations calling for tougher measures against same-sex relations.

Before becoming prime minister in 2024, Ousmane Sonko had pledged to strengthen the criminalization of same-sex relations, proposing to elevate the offense from its current classification as a misdemeanor. However, the new law, which Sonko himself presented to parliament, maintains the same misdemeanour status.

This has led the opposition to accuse Sonko of failing to follow through on his promise.

Social media in Senegal have been flooded in recent weeks with homophobic messages and calls to out individuals accused of same-sex activity.

The highly publicized arrests have spawned headlines such as "Big homo clean-up" and "Bisexuals, walking dangers".

Stories in recent days have also conflated the arrests for same-sex relations with a separate child sex abuse affair.

In that case, investigators dismantled a gang accused of sexual violence against minors, arresting 14 people.

Repression of same-sex relations is politically advantageous in a country where homosexuality is widely regarded as deviant.

At least 32 out of Africa's 54 countries have laws on the books prohibiting and punishing same-sex relations.

The death penalty is imposed in Uganda, Mauritania and Somalia.

Approximately 10 countries or territories impose sentences ranging from 10 years to life in prison, including Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania and Sierra Leone.