Matar Ndiaga Seck, a 51-year-old political figure widely described as a close associate of Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, has been taken into custody by the Criminal Investigations Division (DIC) amid allegations of « acts against nature ».

The arrest follows a warrant issued by police in Linguère, located in the Louga region of northern Senegal. Investigators claim to have gathered substantial evidence linking him to a case involving at least twenty arrests in the Djoloff area.

At present, Senegalese authorities have not disclosed specific details regarding the charges or the current status of the legal proceedings.

The term « acts against nature » refers to Article 319 of Senegal’s Penal Code, which criminalizes same-sex relationships. This legal framework has recently been reinforced, with a new law enacted on March 31, 2026, imposing stricter penalties of up to ten years imprisonment and expanding the scope of offenses related to the « promotion » of same-sex relations.

Since the enforcement of these harsher measures, reports indicate over a hundred arrests across the country. Among those detained is a French national, held since February 14 in a related case. Support groups have been mobilized to assist individuals facing persecution, with STOP homophobie reporting receiving over 3,000 urgent requests for aid.