According to HJN monitoring data, since early February authorities in Senegal have arrested over 320 individuals on allegations of “acts against nature”. Amongst these, at least 84 have also been charged with “voluntary HIV transmission” on the sole basis of their HIV status. Newspapers’ reports indicate that the people arrested were subjected to HIV testing and personal information, such as their HIV-status and names, was subsequently disclosed in the media.

At the same time, the Senegalese National Assembly adopted an amendment to the Penal Code on 11th March 2026 that increases penalties related to same-sex conduct and extends criminal liability to forms of advocacy and financial support perceived as supporting LGBT people. The bill was signed into law by Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye on 27th March 2026 and is now in force.

On 7th August 2026, in one of the first cases, involving 99 co-defendants, HIV transmission charges were dismissed. the investigating judge of the First Chamber of the Pikine-Guédiawaye Regional Court dismissed the charges relating to “endangering the lives of others” and the “deliberate transmission of HIV/AIDS”. Charges of “acts against nature” remained for 71 of the defendants.

Since then, other cases have been referred to the criminal court on identical charges of unnatural acts, wilful transmission of HIV and endangering the lives of others.

A detailed chronology of arrests since 4 February is set out below, with identifying information removed.