Niger has enacted a new penal code that criminalises same-sex relations for the first time, introducing prison terms of up to 20 years for offences related to homosexuality.
According to the country’s official gazette, the legislation provides for jail terms ranging from five to less than 10 years, alongside fines, for individuals found guilty of same-sex relations.
The law also imposes harsher penalties for same-sex marriage, prescribing prison sentences of between 10 and 20 years.
In addition, it criminalises the management, operation, financing or participation in organisations and associations linked to homosexual or LGBTQIA+ persons, with offenders facing the same 10-to-20-year prison term.
The reform marks a significant shift in Niger, where same-sex relations, though widely regarded as socially taboo, had not previously been outlawed.
The legislation was initially proposed during the administration of former president Mohamed Bazoum amid pressure from Muslim groups and lawmakers.
Bazoum was removed from office in a military coup in July 2023, but the measure has now been enacted under the country’s military-led government.
The move places Niger among a number of African countries that have adopted stricter laws targeting LGBTQ individuals in recent years.
