Senegal Enacts Harsher Anti-LGBT Law
Analysis based on 9 articles · First reported Mar 16, 2026 · Last updated Mar 16, 2026
The approval of a tougher anti-LGBT law in Senegal, influenced by U.S. groups and the Donald Trump administration's foreign policy shift, is likely to negatively impact public health efforts, particularly the fight against HIV/AIDS among men who have sex with men (MSM). This event could also affect foreign aid flows to Senegal and Ghana, as the United States===United States Department of State under Donald Trump is cutting funding for 'divisive social and gender issues'.
Senegal has approved a new anti-LGBT law, doubling the maximum prison term for same-sex sexual acts to 10 years and criminalizing the promotion of homosexuality. This legislative change was influenced by a collaboration between the Senegalese network And Samm Jikko Yi and the U.S.-based 'pro-family' group MassResistance. The push for this law gained momentum under the perceived restrictive approach of the Donald Trump administration towards LGBT rights, which has also cut foreign assistance for related social issues. Health workers express concerns that the new law will severely hinder the fight against HIV/AIDS among men who have sex with men (MSM) due to increased fear of arrest and forced hiding. Similar legislative efforts are also underway in Ghana, where MassResistance is in contact with local activists like Frank Mackay Anim-Appiah.
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