Military-led Niger has officially criminalised same-sex relations for the first time, introducing prison sentences of up to 20 years under a newly enacted penal code, according to a legal source citing the official gazette.
Although same-sex relations were previously a taboo subject in the Muslim-majority country, they had not been explicitly criminalised until the latest reform. Niger now joins several other African nations with strict anti-LGBTQ legislation.
Under the new law, consensual same-sex relations are punishable by between five and less than 10 years in prison, alongside fines.
The legislation imposes even harsher penalties for individuals who enter into same-sex marriages, with sentences ranging from 10 to 20 years imprisonment.
It also prescribes the same maximum punishment for anyone who “manages, directs, operates, finances or participates in clubs, societies, organisations or associations for homosexuals or LGBTQIA+ people,” according to the legal text.
The penal code reform was reportedly initiated under former civilian president Mohamed Bazoum before his overthrow in the July 2023 military coup, following pressure from religious groups and lawmakers.
The development marks a significant shift in Niger’s legal stance on LGBTQ rights, drawing renewed attention to human rights concerns in the country.