The Minister of Justice, Keeper of the Seals, Yassine Fall, spoke this morning before the deputies of the National Assembly to take stock of the situation of alleged homosexual people currently in the hands of justice. Asked about the conditions of detention and health monitoring of these prisoners, the minister provided precise figures on their distribution in the country’s prisons.
According to Yassine Fall, there are a total of 26 individuals concerned. The majority of them, or 19 people, are incarcerated at the Rebeuss detention and correction center in Dakar. The other 7 are at the Cap Manuel prison. This official announcement clarifies the numerical scale of this situation, which regularly provokes debates within civil society and human rights organizations.
Beyond the numbers, Yassine Fall wanted to reassure the assembly about the medical care of inmates, especially those living with chronic pathologies. In particular, she mentioned the case of HIV-positive people among this group. The minister specified that the chief physician of the prison administration personally ensures the medical follow-up of these HIV-AIDS cases, thus guaranteeing access to care for these prisoners in accordance with the health rules in force in prisons.
La ministre de la Justice, Garde des Sceaux, Yassine Fall, a pris la parole ce matin devant les députés à l’Assemblée nationale pour faire le point sur la situation des personnes présumées homosexuelles actuellement entre les mains de la justice. Interpellée sur les conditions de détention et le suivi sanitaire de ces prisonniers, la ministre a fourni des chiffres précis sur leur répartition dans les établissements pénitentiaires du pays.
Selon Yassine Fall, ils sont au total 26 individus concernés. La majorité d’entre eux, soit 19 personnes, sont incarcérées à la maison d’arrêt et de correction de Rebeuss, à Dakar. Les 7 autres se trouvent quant à elles à la prison du Cap Manuel. Cette annonce officielle permet de clarifier l’ampleur numérique de cette situation qui suscite régulièrement des débats au sein de la société civile et des organisations de défense des droits humains.
Au-delà des chiffres, Yassine Fall a tenu à rassurer l’assemblée sur la prise en charge médicale des détenus, en particulier ceux vivant avec des pathologies chroniques. Elle a notamment évoqué le cas des personnes séropositives parmi ce groupe. La ministre a précisé que le médecin-chef de l’administration pénitentiaire assure personnellement le suivi médical de ces cas de VIH-Sida, garantissant ainsi l’accès aux soins pour ces prisonniers conformément aux règles sanitaires en vigueur dans les établissements pénitentiaires.
The Keur Massar investigation unit arrested three suspected homosexuals as part of a judicial delegation ordered by the investigating judge of the 1st chamber at the Guédiawaye High Court. The trio are currently in police custody, as is the suspect arrested in Mbour.
In this case, Seneweb exclusively announced this afternoon the arrest of a businessman by the Saly Criminal Investigation Brigade. He was transferred to Dakar under heavy guard.
In total, 16 suspected members of this network were arrested by the national gendarmerie in this case of unnatural acts and voluntary transmission of HIV.
Eight of the twelve people arrested between February 4 and 6 in Senegal for voluntary transmission of HIV were confirmed HIV-positive, according to medical examinations. The authorities continue the investigation to dismantle the entire network and establish all responsibilities.
The Keur Massar Research Brigade (BR) arrested twelve individuals in the same locality, located in the suburbs of Dakar and Diamniadio as part of an investigation into the voluntary transmission of HIV, endangering others and illegal sexual acts, reported the daily Liberation.
The investigation began after a report concerning a 21 year-old electrician in Keur Massar, who had unprotected sex when he was HIV-positive. Arrested on February 4, he admitted to having voluntarily infected a dozen partners recruited through online groups. Two of his partners who are HIV-positive, were also arrested.
In the following days, nine other people were arrested. All admitted to having had unprotected sex despite their serological status.
According to the results of medical examinations, eight of the twelve defendants are HIV-positive, two are awaiting confirmation and four are HIV-negative. The National Gendarmerie indicated that the investigation is actively continuing in order to dismantle the entire network and establish all responsibilities.
The twelve individuals were placed in police custody and should be presented this Monday to the prosecutor’s office to answer the charges held, including association of criminals, unnatural acts, voluntary transmission of HIV and endangering the lives of others.
According to Senegalese legislation, Article 36 of the law on the prevention, management and control of HIV/AIDS provides for sanctions for perpetrators of voluntary transmission of HIV. Any person who, knowing his positive serological status and the modes of HIV transmission, undertakes unprotected sex with the intention of transmitting the virus to another person shall be punished by five to ten years imprisonment and a fine of 2,000,000 to 5,000,000 CFA francs.
According to the National Council for the Fight against AIDS (CNLS), in 2023, about 41,880 people live with HIV in Senegal, including 22,691 women and 3,443 children under the age of 15. Nearly 90% know their status and 93% are under treatment. Men who have sex with men (MSM) are among the populations most exposed to the virus.
Huit des douze personnes interpellées entre le 4 et le 6 février au Sénégal pour transmission volontaire du VIH ont été confirmées séropositives, selon les examens médicaux. Les autorités poursuivent l’enquête pour démanteler l’ensemble du réseau et établir toutes les responsabilités.
La Brigade de recherches (BR) de Keur Massar a arrêté douze individus dans la même localité, située dans la banlieue de Dakar et Diamniadio dans le cadre d’une enquête sur la transmission volontaire du VIH, la mise en danger d’autrui et des actes sexuels illégaux, a rapporté le quotidien Libération.
L’enquête a débuté après un signalement concernant un électricien de 21 ans à Keur Massar, qui entretenait des rapports sexuels non protégés alors qu’il était séropositif. Interpellé le 4 février, il a reconnu avoir volontairement contaminé une dizaine de partenaires recrutés via des groupes en ligne. Deux de ses partenaires séropositifs ont également été arrêtés.
Dans les jours suivants, neuf autres personnes ont été interpellées. Tous ont reconnu avoir entretenu des rapports sexuels non protégés malgré leur statut sérologique.
Selon les résultats des examens médicaux, huit des douze mis en cause sont séropositifs, deux sont en attente de confirmation et quatre séronégatifs. La Gendarmerie nationale a indiqué que l’enquête se poursuit activement afin de démanteler l’ensemble du réseau et établir toutes les responsabilités.
Les douze individus ont été placés en garde à vue et devraient être présentés ce lundi au parquet pour répondre des chefs d’accusation retenus, incluant association de malfaiteurs, actes contre nature, transmission volontaire du VIH et mise en danger de la vie d’autrui.
Selon la législation sénégalaise, l’article 36 de la loi relative à la prévention, la prise en charge et le contrôle du VIH/sida prévoit des sanctions pour les auteurs de transmission volontaire du VIH. Est puni d’un emprisonnement de cinq à dix ans et d’une amende de 2 000 000 à 5 000 000 de francs CFA, toute personne qui, connaissant son statut sérologique positif et les modes de transmission du VIH, entreprend des rapports sexuels non protégés avec l’intention de transmettre le virus à une autre personne.
D’après le Conseil national de lutte contre le sida (CNLS), en 2023, environ 41 880 personnes vivent avec le VIH au Sénégal, dont 22 691 femmes et 3 443 enfants de moins de 15 ans. Près de 90 % connaissent leur statut et 93 % sont sous traitement. Les hommes ayant des rapports sexuels avec les hommes (HSH) figurent parmi les populations les plus exposées au virus.
The Keur Massar gendarmerie company has carried out the police custody of three individuals of Senegalese nationality for association of criminals, acts against nature, voluntary transmission of HIV AIDS through unprotected sexual intercourse and endangering the lives of others.
The operation follows the exploitation of an intelligence signaling the actions of an HIV-positive individual who continued to indulge in homosexuality, Seneweb learned from Colonel Ibrahima Ndiaye, head of the Communication and Public Relations Division of the National Gendarmerie.
The elements of the Research Brigade conducted investigations that led to the arrest of the main suspect. He was tested for HIV AIDS by requisition from a qualified person. The medical certificate issued by the doctor certifies that he is a carrier of the HIV AIDS virus.
During his interrogation, the defendant said he was aware of his HIV-positive status but continued to have unprotected sex. Two of his partners were arrested in turn.
They also acknowledged being aware of their HIV-positive status while continuing to have unprotected sex with other gay partners.
The three suspects were taken into custody. The investigation continues to apprehend the possible other partners cited in this case. Prosecutor Saliou Dicko, head of the Pikine-Guédiawaye prosecutor’s office, has been informed of the facts.
La compagnie de gendarmerie de Keur Massar a procédé à la garde à vue de trois individus de nationalité sénégalaise pour association de malfaiteurs, actes contre nature, transmission volontaire du VIH sida par rapports sexuels non protégés et mise en danger de la vie d’autrui.
L’opération fait suite à l’exploitation d’un renseignement signalant les agissements d’un individu séropositif qui continuait à s’adonner à l’homosexualité, a appris Seneweb du colonel Ibrahima Ndiaye, chef de la Division communication et des relations publiques de la Gendarmerie nationale.
Les éléments de la Brigade de recherches ont mené des investigations qui ont abouti à l’interpellation du principal suspect. Il a été soumis aux tests de dépistage du VIH sida par réquisition à personne qualifiée. Le certificat médical délivré par le médecin atteste qu’il est porteur du virus du VIH sida.
Lors de son interrogatoire, le mis en cause a déclaré être conscient de son statut de séropositif mais continuait à entretenir des relations sexuelles non protégées. Deux de ses partenaires ont été interpellés à leur tour.
Ces derniers ont également reconnu être au courant de leur statut de séropositifs tout en continuant à entretenir des relations sexuelles non protégées avec d’autres partenaires homosexuels.
Les trois suspects ont été placés en garde à vue. L’enquête se poursuit pour appréhender les éventuels autres partenaires cités dans cette affaire. Le procureur Saliou Dicko chef du parquet de Pikine-Guédiawaye a été informé des faits.
Editorial comment
Kevin Dupont – Source: Belga – February 9, 2026 – Translated from French with AI
Stop Homophobia strongly condemned the arrest of 12 people accused of “acts against nature” for being supposedly homosexual. They face up to five years in prison, in a climate of increasing repression supported by the government.
The Stop Homophobia association expressed its “concern” in a statement sent to AFP on Monday, after the recent arrest in Senegal of 12 people, including two local celebrities, accused in particular of “unnatural acts”. This term refers, in this West African country, to sexual relations between two people of the same sex, which are prohibited there.
“Artirary arrests and stigmatization”
In Senegal, a predominantly Muslim and very practical country, the law punishes from one to five years of imprisonment the acts called “unnatural with an individual of its sex”. People are regularly arrested there on these charges. The gendarmerie announced on Saturday that it had arrested twelve Senegalese for “association of criminals, acts against nature, voluntary transmission of HIV AIDS through unprotected sexual intercourse and endangering the lives of others”.
Two celebrities in Senegal are among the 12 people arrested, a member of the gendarmerie’s communication division confirmed to AFP on Sunday.
“STOP Homophobia expresses its concern about these arrests,” Terrence Khatchadourian, secretary general of this Paris-based association, which regularly helps Senegalese victims of discrimination in their country, told AFP. “This case reminds us that in Senegal, sexual relations between consenting adults remain criminalized, exposing LGBTQIA+ people to arbitrary arrests and stigmatization,” continues Mr. Khatchadourian.
HIV-positivity brandished as a homophobic argument
In this country where homosexuality is widely considered a deviance and discrimination against the LGBTQIA+ community is regular, the case is stirring up social networks and making the fat cabbages of the press.
A first arrest of a man suspected of “indulging in unnatural acts” despite his HIV-likeness led to the arrest of the other 11, according to the gendarmerie. She specifies that at least six of the 12 arrested had been tested HIV-positive and that several had “continued to have unprotected sexual relations with other partners, all men”.
Sub-Saharan Africa is the region where the AIDS epidemic is the strongest, according to official data. In this part of the world, women and girls (of all ages combined) accounted for 63% of all new HIV infections.
An increasingly conservative country
In recent years, the issue of homosexuality has often agitated Senegalese society, some seeing it as a Western value incompatible with its own. Several demonstrations at the call of religious associations have taken place in recent years to demand the tightening of the sentences incurred.
While he was still in the opposition, the current Senegalese Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko, regularly promised to toughen the repression of homosexuality.
Having become head of government, he warned Westerners in May 2024 that their activism in favor of homosexuals and sexual minorities could become a “new casus belli”.
In October 2023, images showing an animated crowd around what was presented as the remains of a homosexual man, unearthed to be burned, had caused a stir. Similar events have taken place several times in the country.