Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on July 11, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 22, 2026
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The UN and Dutch ministry canceled an LGBTQ event in Senegal after government warnings, reflecting ongoing tensions over LGBTQ rights in the region.
DAKAR (Reuters) -The U.N. and the Dutch foreign ministry said on Friday they had cancelled an LGBTQ-themed event in Senegal after the West African nation warned of repercussions for organisers and voiced opposition to all "promotion of the LGBTQI phenomenon".
Anti-gay laws are in place in many conservative West African countries, including Senegal, where anyone who commits an "act against nature" with someone of the same sex can be punished by up to five years in prison.
In a statement published on X, Senegal's foreign ministry on Friday said it had been informed of a film screening to be hosted by the U.N. and the Dutch embassy that would have been followed by "discussions on LGBTI issues".
The statement did not specify when the event was scheduled to occur.
"Accordingly, the government reserves the right to take any appropriate action against any organisers of such activities, and even against participants, whatever their origins, status or rank," the foreign ministry statement said.
The activities of diplomatic missions and international organizations must comply with the country's regulations, it said.
Later on Friday, Seif Magango, spokesperson for the U.N. human rights office, told Reuters the event "has been cancelled, and we continue to engage with the authorities".
The Dutch foreign ministry said in a statement that, while the Netherlands "stands for human rights and equal treatment" it had decided to cancel the event "considering various factors".
In 2022, Senegalese lawmakers rejected a bid to toughen anti-LGBTQ provisions in the penal code, saying the existing legislation was sufficiently clear.
Earlier this year, Ghana reintroduced a bill that could become one of Africa's most restrictive pieces of anti-LGBTQ legislation after an earlier attempt to enact it fell short because of legal challenges.
The fate of that legislation, which would need to be signed into law by the president, is unclear.
(Reporting by Anait Miridzhanian; Editing by Robbie Corey-Boulet and Alex Richardson)
The event was cancelled after the Senegalese government warned of repercussions for the organisers and participants, stating that such activities must comply with the country's regulations.
In Senegal, anyone committing an 'act against nature' with someone of the same sex can face punishment of up to five years in prison under existing anti-gay laws.
The Dutch foreign ministry stated that while it stands for human rights and equal treatment, it decided to cancel the event considering various factors, including the government's warning.
Many conservative West African countries, including Senegal, have strict anti-gay laws, and in 2022, Senegalese lawmakers rejected a bid to toughen these provisions, indicating a complex legislative environment.
Earlier this year, Ghana reintroduced a bill that could become one of Africa's most restrictive pieces of anti-LGBTQ legislation, although its fate remains unclear as it awaits presidential approval.
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