Sénégal: political ally detained amid widening homosexuality law probe

A significant judicial development is unfolding in Sénégal following the detention of Matar Ndiaga Seck, 51. Local media outlets identify Seck as a prominent political figure with close ties to influential government circles. The operation was executed by the Division des investigations criminelles (DIC), acting on a search warrant issued by police services in Linguère, located in the northern part of the country.

Sources familiar with the investigation, as reported by the local press, indicate that Seck’s arrest is part of a broader inquiry into matters concerning the criminalization of homosexuality. Investigators have cited corroborating evidence from a series of prior arrests in the Djoloff region, where approximately twenty individuals have already been taken into custody under the same ongoing investigations.

At this juncture, judicial authorities have refrained from issuing a detailed statement regarding the specific allegations or the exact legal classifications of the offenses involved. The investigations are actively proceeding, with particular focus on the examination of seized digital information, including the contents of a mobile phone, which some sources suggest could be pivotal in guiding the direction of the inquiry.

This incident occurs within a particularly sensitive period in Sénégal, marked by a recent tightening of the legal framework governing same-sex relationships. A new law, enacted on March 31, 2026, significantly strengthened existing provisions within Article 319 of the Penal Code. This expanded the scope of infractions to include the “promotion” of homosexuality, with potential penalties now extending up to ten years of imprisonment.

The reinforcement of this legislation has provoked considerable reaction from human rights organizations. These groups are vocal in their condemnation of what they perceive as an increase in arrests and a growing climate of repression targeting individuals who are LGBT or are presumed to be so. According to these organizations, over a hundred detentions have been recorded since the new legal measures came into effect.

In this evolving landscape, certain non-governmental organizations are also highlighting the political sensitivity inherent in some of the current cases, particularly when individuals implicated are connected to circles close to the government or administration. They urge caution, however, emphasizing that individual culpability must be established through due legal process rather than through speculation.

Furthermore, human rights advocacy groups confirm they are closely monitoring other similar cases, including that of a foreign national who has been held for several months in a comparable situation. They report a substantial number of requests for assistance through their various support mechanisms.

As of now, Senegalese authorities have not provided any additional details concerning these ongoing legal proceedings. The progression of the investigation will depend on the outcomes of judicial inquiries and the evidence presented before the competent courts in the coming weeks.