Niger’s New Penal Code Criminalizes Same-Sex Acts and Same-Sex Marriage

Niger's military junta put into force a new penal code on Thursday that imposes prison terms of five to 10 years and fines on anyone who commits or attempts to commit same-sex acts. ” The same penalties apply to anyone who officiates, witnesses, consents to or organizes a same-sex marriage.

Hamidou Julien, an adviser to the justice minister, confirmed to The Associated Press on Friday that the provisions took effect the previous day.

An adviser to the justice minister had announced the new code on Friday. Homosexuality had not been illegal in Niger before the change, although it had been heavily stigmatized. Senegal introduced comparable criminal penalties earlier this year.

Niger now joins more than 30 of Africa’s 54 countries that criminalize same-sex sexual acts. Kenya, Sierra Leone and Tanzania impose prison terms of 10 years or longer; Somalia, Uganda and Mauritania prescribe the death penalty for the offense.