Droits humains : Human Rights Watch dénonce une « répression brutale » anti-LGBT+ au Sénégal à l’approche des JOJ
In a new report published on Monday, October 12, 2026, the international organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) criticizes Senegal, pointing to "brutal repression" and massive violations of the rights of LGBT+ people. The NGO directly links this situation to the approach of the Youth Olympic Games (YOG), raising "serious concerns about the host country's compliance" with the Olympic Charter, according to information reported by Agence France-Presse (AFP).
As a reminder, Senegal adopted legislation last March strengthening the repressive arsenal, doubling the penalties for homosexual relations, which are now punishable by five to ten years imprisonment.
In this country, which is largely attached to its religious values, this period has been marked by a resurgence of homophobic acts and highly publicized police raids, leading in particular to the referral of 71 men to court in August for "acts against nature".
From October 31 to November 13, Dakar will host the fourth edition of the Youth Olympic Games, bringing together nearly 2,700 athletes for the first-ever Olympic event held on the African continent. This international showcase is one that Human Rights Watch intends to hold accountable for its legal and moral responsibilities.
"The Olympic Charter prohibits all discrimination on any grounds whatsoever and commits each country hosting the competitions to respect human rights and human dignity," the organization recalls in its conclusions, considering that the campaign carried out in Senegal "clearly violates" the fundamental rights of sexual minorities.
When questioned by AFP, Larissa Kojoué, a researcher on LGBT+ rights at HRW, warned: "The current repression carried out by the government against LGBT people raises serious concerns about Senegal's respect for the Olympic Charter and international law."
The NGO particularly emphasizes the deteriorating climate taking hold in the country: "The growing repression carried out by Senegal against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people infringes upon their rights, fuels increasing fear and stigmatization, and must stop immediately."
According to HRW, this climate of repression has direct repercussions on public health. "Fear of arrest and stigma force those affected to hide, avoid HIV testing and treatment, and discourage lawyers from representing them," the organization laments, adding that "LGBT people are forced to limit their usual activities and refrain from exercising their rights for fear of arrest and increased stigmatization."
While the NGO was unable to independently verify the exact number of arrests due to the complexities of the situation on the ground, it relies on data from the African Meeting for the Defense of Human Rights (RADDHO), which counted at least 212 arrests between February and July. For its part, the HIV Justice Network estimates that more than 300 people were apprehended during the same period.
Human Rights Watch also specifies that it sent an official letter to the Senegalese authorities on September 29th to obtain clarification on these cases, but states that it has received "no response" to date.
The organization concludes by emphasizing that "mass arrests, forced HIV testing and obstacles to accessing legal representation appear to be part of a hardening of repressive measures taken by the government against LGBT people in West Africa."
Commentaires (8)
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