Matar Ndiaga Seck, a 51-year-old politician widely described in local reports as a close associate of Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, was taken into custody by the Criminal Investigations Division (DIC) on suspicion of involvement in « acts against nature ».
The arrest follows a regional police bulletin issued in Linguère, located in the Louga region of northern Senegal. Investigators claim to have gathered corroborating evidence in connection with the detention of at least twenty individuals across the Djoloff area.
At this stage, Senegalese authorities have not disclosed further details regarding the allegations or the current legal status of the case.
The term « acts against nature » refers directly to Article 319 of the Senegalese Penal Code, which criminalizes same-sex relationships.
Since the enforcement of a stricter anti-homosexuality law enacted in March 2026, Senegal has seen a rise in legal action, with penalties now reaching up to ten years imprisonment. The legislation also expands the scope of offenses to include « promotion » of same-sex relations.
Following the implementation of these measures, over one hundred arrests have been reported nationwide. A French national remains detained in Senegal since mid-February in a comparable case, with support groups actively coordinating legal assistance.
Human rights organizations have launched emergency response initiatives, fielding over 3,000 requests from individuals facing persecution or violence under the new legal framework.
