LGBTQ+ in Africa

Niger arrests at least 16 people on suspicion of same-sex relationships. According to a Reuters report, authorities in Niger have arrested at least 16 people, including high-ranking police and customs officials, on suspicion of engaging in same-sex relationships. The arrests are part of a sweeping enforcement of new anti-LGBT laws. Reports indicate the measures will be extended to military bases and other facilities where people of the same sex live together (Reuters). The legal situation regarding same-sex relationships in Niger and much of Africa has dramatically worsened in 2026. Niger introduced a new penal code in February 2026 that, for the first time, imposes severe penalties for unilateral sexual acts. Those convicted of same-sex acts face 5 to 10 years in prison. Fines of up to 100 million CFA francs (approximately US$170,000) are possible—a sum unattainable for most of the population. Anyone who enters into, organizes, or witnesses a same-sex marriage risks 10 to 20 years in prison. The same applies to leading or funding LGBTQIA+ organizations. Dozens of people have reportedly already been arrested, including high-ranking military officers. Support organizations for men who have sex with men have had to cease their work, which could lead to a public health crisis. The law is justified by claiming it protects the country's national and cultural values. Niger is not an isolated case but part of a worrying trend in West and Central Africa. In 2025, Burkina Faso introduced prison sentences of up to five years for homosexuality. Senegal doubled the maximum sentence for same-sex acts to up to ten years. Ghana passed a law that provides for three years in prison for same-sex relationships and up to five years for "promoting" them. Uganda enacted one of the world's strictest anti-LGBTQ+ laws back in 2023. Currently, it is estimated that over 30 of the 54 African countries criminalize same-sex acts. While the laws are new, societal rejection is deeply ingrained. According to a 2022 survey, over 94% of people in Niger said they would not want homosexuals as neighbors. Proponents of the new laws often justify them by claiming to protect "African values" from Western influence. These developments pose a massive threat to the fundamental rights of LGBTQ+ people and have already led to a deterioration in the humanitarian situation.