Senegal’s National Assembly late on Wednesday overwhelmingly passed a ‌bill doubling the maximum prison term for same-s3x s3xual acts to 10 years and criminalising any efforts to promote homos3xuality.

The law – passed by 135 votes to zero, with three abstentions – fulfils a campaign promise of the government that ​came to power in 2024, led by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Prime Minister ​Ousmane Sonko. It now awaits Faye’s signature.

Senegal’s penal code already carried an article, last ⁠amended in 1966, imposing up to five years’ jail and fines of up to 1,500,000 CFA ​francs ($2,700) for “acts against nature”.

The new version doubles the maximum term and allows for fines of up to 10 million ​CFA francs.

It says a judge may not grant a suspended sentence, or use their discretion to reduce a prison term below the minimum.

It specifies that acts against nature relate to homosexuality, bis3xuality, “transs3xuality”, zoophilia and ​necrophilia.

Those found guilty of promoting or financing such acts also face prison time.

Imam Babacar Sylla, ​leader of And Samm Jikko Yi, a network of Islamic and civil society organizations, urged Faye to sign the bill into law as soon ‌as ⁠possible.

“The longer it takes, the more complicated it will be. And these people, whom I consider a public danger, will continue to escape,” he said.

In the weeks leading up to Wednesday’s vote, supporters of the bill, including lawmakers from the ruling Pastef party, organised demonstrations in Dakar in which participants shouted “No ​to homos3xuality!” and held ​signs with rainbows crossed ⁠out.

The period has also been marked by a surge in arrests of men on suspicion of “acts against nature” as well as, in some cases, “voluntary ​transmission” of HIV – a crime carrying up to 10 years in prison.

​Some 27 men ⁠were arrested between February 9 and 24, according to the International Federation for Human Rights.

Last year, Burkina Faso passed a law criminalizing same-s3x sexual relations for the first time, imposing prison terms of up ⁠to ​five years.

Lawmakers in Ghana are considering raising the maximum penalty ​for same-s3x sexual acts from three years to five and imposing jail time for the “wilful promotion, sponsorship or support of LGBTQ+ activities.

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Residents of Lagos came out today, March 12, to protest the epileptic power supply being experienced in the state.

The protest is currently taking place at Fadeyi in Lagos State.

The protesters marched, rang bells, and sang.

“All we are saying, give us freedom,” they sang.

“We “We’re not asking for too much, make them give us light,” another said.

“Give us light, give us light,” more protesters echoed.

Some protesters held placards with their demands written on them.

“No more epileptic power supply,” one placard read.

“Give us regular light. Say no to touch light of Ikeja Electric,” another read.

“You destroying, k!lling so many businesses. Please, give us light,” was written on one placard.

Other words on the placards include, “No light, no life, no nation, no try & error.”

And, “No more to estimated billing.”

For days now, Nigerians on social media have been lamenting a lack of power supply which has been compounded by the increasing fuel price that has made fueling generators more expensive.

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A report has claimed that Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have established new hideouts in the Tuba settlement, near the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) in Jere Local Council of Borno State.

Local sources and Jere farmers, told The Guardian that about 200 motorcycles were observed at a fortress used by the terrorists in Northern parts of Borno State.

The terrorists have targeted the NNPCL exploration site and neighbouring settlements such as Dusuman, Ngom, Jabarman, GongulongLawanti, Koshebe and the outskirts of Muna Garage, 20 kilometres east of Maiduguri, The Guardian learnt.

Other targets include Madinatu, the Maiduguri cattle market and motorists and commuters travelling on the Maiduguri-Monguno and Mafa roads.

Reports indicate that the two terror groups send small attacking detachments on motorcycles towards Ngom community along the Maiduguri-Dikwa road, crossing over to the 40km Maiduguri Mafa road, and eventually reaching Konduga Local Council on the southern fringe of Sambisa Forest, a main hideout for insurgents in the North-East.

In addition to establishing a fortress and escape routes, a 65-year-old hunter named KontoAliyu expressed concern about the security threats posed by the terrorists’ presence in the council areas.

He urged the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), Maj-Gen. AbdulsalamAbubakar, to destroy the hideouts in Jere, to weaken their operational capabilities in attacking Army bases and surrounding communities.

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