Matar Ndiaga Seck, a 51-year-old political figure widely described as a close associate of Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, was taken into custody by the Criminal Investigations Division (DIC) following allegations of « acts against nature ».
The arrest follows a warrant issued by police authorities in Linguère, a town in the Louga region of northern Senegal. Investigators claim to have gathered corroborating evidence in connection with the detention of over two dozen individuals in the Djoloff area.
At this juncture, Senegalese authorities have not disclosed further details about the charges or the current status of the legal proceedings.
The term « acts against nature » is legally defined under Article 319 of the Senegalese Penal Code, which criminalizes same-sex relations. The legal framework was further tightened on March 31, 2026, when a new law was enacted to intensify penalties for homosexuality, imposing prison sentences of up to a decade and expanding the scope of offenses related to the « promotion » of same-sex relationships.
Since the enforcement of this legislation, reports indicate over a hundred arrests have been recorded nationwide. Notably, a French national has been held in Senegal since February 14 in a comparable case. STOP homophobie, a rights advocacy group, is coordinating with the detainee’s legal counsel to provide assistance.
The organization has also launched an emergency support campaign for victims of violence and persecution in Senegal, with its international hotline receiving over 3,000 requests for assistance to date.
