HIV patients in Senegal skip treatment, fearing arrest amid anti-LGBTQ crackdown

FILE PHOTO: Anti-LGBT supporters march through the streets during a protest calling for tougher action after authorities detained people for what police said were crimes including same-sex intercourse and intentional HIV transmission, and about a dozen others in what police said was a child-abuse network, in Dakar, Senegal, February 14, 2026. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra/File Photo

DAKAR, April 29 (Reuters) - Fewer patients are visiting some ⁠HIV treatment centres in Senegal amid a wave of arrests targeting LGBTQ people, according to health officials and government data seen by Reuters, threatening the country's fight against the virus.

Last month, Senegal, where ⁠homosexuality is illegal, doubled the maximum prison term for same-sex sexual acts to 10 years and criminalised what it described as any efforts to promote it. The country also increased the maximum ‌fine to 10 million CFA francs ($18,000).