Senegal’s ramped up criminalization and persecution of LGBTQ+ people are creating serious barriers to healthcare, particularly HIV prevention and treatment. In March 2026 the Senegalese government passed legislation doubling the maximum prison sentence for consensual same-sex relationships to 10 years. The government also introduced penalties for supporting LGBTQ+ individuals and organizations. As a result, many queer subjects are avoiding healthcare facilities because they fear being reported, arrested, or having their private medical information exposed. HIV treatment centre visits reportedly dropped by 25.6% between January and February 2026, and some community organizations have suspended their health services due to safety concerns.
To complicate matters, Senegal is currently hosting the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, the first Olympic event on the African continent. While the Olympic Charter prohibits discrimination of any kind, we’ll be watching closely to see if Senegalese sexual minorities’ rights and freedoms are respected as the events take place.
