An investigation into the theft of a mobile phone, initiated following a complaint from a religious leader in the Diourbel region, led to the arrest of a group of 15 men suspected of “acts against nature.” In Senegal, this charge carries a penalty of up to 5 years imprisonment, under paragraph 3 of Article 319 of Law No. 65-60 of July 21, 1965. In addition, those found guilty face a fine ranging from 100,000 to 1,500,000 CFA francs (approximately €150 to €2,200).
Two-year prison sentence requested, awaiting verdict
The events reported by senenews began with a routine police investigation into theft, at the request of a religious dignitary who complained that his phones had been stolen.
The suspect quickly gave his version of events, justifying his retention of the religious leader’s belongings by claiming a debt owed for a previously agreed-upon and unpaid sexual encounter.
Further investigations into the circumstances of the relationship between the two men led to the arrest and searches of 15 men, all suspected of “unnatural acts,” with incriminating evidence linked to the discovery of messaging history on the dignitary’s phone, which had the WhatsApp application installed.
The individuals involved, all from Diourbel and the surrounding region, were taken into custody and have already appeared before a judge. According to our colleagues at seneweb, 13 of them have been placed in pre-trial detention, while two others have been released.
While prosecutor Farba Ngom requested a two-year prison sentence for 13 of the accused on Thursday, December 11, the court has decided to deliver its verdict on December 18.
Forced anal tests conducted in Senegal
During the investigations, local media revealed that some of the defendants underwent forced anal tests to prove their homosexuality, an act considered torture by the United Nations.
This is the first documented case of its kind in this West African country, a clear violation of Article 7 of the Senegalese Constitution, which states that “every individual has the right to bodily integrity.”
Finally, the HIV status of one of the accused was revealed in the press, adding the stigma surrounding HIV to the repression of homosexuality. The repercussions of this case continue to resonate in the Senegalese political arena, as Mame Mactar Guèye of the conservative NGO Jamra (meaning “the ember” in Wolof) is using this affair to highlight that a sixth bill in nine years proposing harsher penalties for homosexuality was introduced this year. Abdou Karim Gueye, from the Nittu Degg (“Woke” or “Doubout” in Wolof) movement, is behind this initiative. He has been banned from entering the European Union since 2020.
To date, all these attempts have failed or been blocked.
Planète Queer 
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