A widespread anti-LGBTQ+ crackdown in Niger has raised alarm among human rights and HIV advocates, with dozens of people reportedly arrested under a new criminal law that criminalizes same-sex relationships for the first time in the country’s history.
The arrests have also disrupted HIV prevention efforts, with community groups reporting that many LGBTQ+ people are in hiding, while access to condoms, HIV testing, and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has effectively collapsed for some of the country’s most vulnerable populations.
This development marks a dramatic shift in Niger, where consensual same-sex relationships have not previously been explicitly outlawed.
New criminal law criminalizes same-sex relationships
Niger enacted a revised penal code in February, introducing criminal penalties for “obscene or unnatural acts” and “sexual relations with a person of the same sex.”
According to a report in The guardianThe law allows for up to 10 years in prison for same-sex intimacy. Some crimes could carry penalties of up to 20 years in prison, Reuters reported, citing a copy of the criminal law reviewed by the news agency.
This law applies beyond personal relationships. Individuals who participate in, witness, or organize same-sex marriages could face long prison terms, and individuals and organizations associated with LGBTQ+ groups could also be prosecuted under the new law.
The legal overhaul follows years of political turmoil in the West African country.
General Abdulrahmane Chiani seized power in a military coup in July 2023 and became president in 2025 for a five-year interim term. His government then dissolved political parties and pursued broader constitutional and legal changes under the Re-Establishment Charter.
Arrests stoke fear across the LGBTQ+ community
Human rights groups claim the new law has created a climate of fear.
of guardian It reported that as many as 40 people had been arrested in connection with homosexuality since the law took effect. Reuters, citing judicial sources, confirmed that at least 16 people were detained, including several senior military officials.
An HIV aid worker, who requested anonymity due to safety concerns, said the situation was becoming increasingly dangerous.
“With the recent witch hunts and arrests, the climate here is really toxic.”
Officials say many LGBTQ+ people have disappeared from public view for fear of arrest.
“LGBTQ+ people remain invisible and hidden because they are at risk. We have lost contact with many people and recent arrests have exacerbated tensions.”
Human rights group Frontline Defenders said the arrests were “deeply concerning” and called on Niger’s government to abolish laws that criminalize people based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.
HIV prevention efforts face major setback
Advocates warn that the impact extends far beyond criminal enforcement.
Organizations that provide services to men who have sex with men have reportedly ceased operations, leaving many without access to condoms, HIV testing, or PrEP, a treatment that significantly reduces the risk of contracting HIV.
An anonymous HIV positive person warned that the disruption could reverse years of public health progress.
“When people hide, we don’t see them and they can’t protect themselves. So you see the impact.” [this penal code] I have it. We are really saddened by that. ”
Public health experts have long warned that criminalizing the LGBTQ+ community often discourages people from seeking medical care, making HIV prevention and treatment more difficult.
Although West and Central Africa recorded a 49% decline in new HIV infections between 2010 and 2022, sub-Saharan Africa continues to account for nearly two-thirds of people living with HIV worldwide. In Niger alone, an estimated 32,000 new HIV infections were recorded in 2023.
Niger was among eight countries last week to vote against the United Nations Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS, which was ultimately passed with the support of 149 countries.
Part of a broader regional trend
Niger’s law reflects a broader pattern playing out across the sub-Saharan African region.
In recent years, several countries have introduced or strengthened laws targeting LGBTQ+ people. Uganda’s anti-gay law drew international condemnation for introducing some of the harshest penalties in the world for same-sex acts. Senegal recently expanded criminal penalties related to same-sex relationships, and Ghana is considering legislation targeting LGBTQ+ advocacy groups.
Larissa Kojue, a political scientist and Pan-African activist, rejected the argument that homosexuality represents foreign influence imposed on African society.
“Political leaders are using this to advance their own political agendas,” she said. “They are willing to violate people’s human rights while claiming ‘African values’, sovereignty and culture.”
She added:
“There is no culture that encourages violence against innocent people or fails to hold perpetrators of violence accountable. [African] On this continent, you can do whatever you want to LGBTQ+ people and get away with it. ”
For LGBTQ+ advocates, concerns extend beyond arrests. They warn that criminalization and reduced access to health care could have lasting impacts on both human rights and public health in Niger.
Source: Gayety – gayety.com
