A 51-year-old figure identified by local outlets as a political associate of Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has been taken into custody by the Criminal Investigations Division (DIC) amid allegations of « acts against nature ».

The arrest follows a warrant issued by police in Linguère, in the northern Louga region, where investigators report gathering corroborating evidence tied to the detention of at least two dozen individuals in the Djoloff area.

At this point, Senegalese authorities have not disclosed specifics about the alleged offenses or the current status of the legal proceedings.

The term « acts against nature » refers to Article 319 of the Senegalese Penal Code, which criminalizes same-sex relations.

In a further tightening of legislation, Senegal passed a law on March 31, 2026, increasing penalties for homosexuality to up to ten years in prison and expanding the scope to include the « promotion » of same-sex relationships.

Since the law took effect, over a hundred arrests have been documented nationwide. A French national has also been held in Senegal since February 14 in a related case. STOP homophobie is assisting the detainee’s legal representative.

The organization has also launched an emergency support campaign for victims of violence and persecution in Senegal, with its international hotline receiving over 3,000 requests for help.