rights
Military junta in Niger bans homosexuality with 5 to 10 years in prison
By Alex Bollinger at LGBTQ Nation
· June 15, 2026
· 1 min read
The military junta that took over the Sahara nation of Niger in 2023 announced the country's new penal code last Friday. The new penal code criminalizes homosexuality and imposes a prison sentence of five to ten years. The AP notes that homosexuality wasn't formally illegal in Niger before 2025, but
Key takeaway The new penal code criminalizes homosexuality and imposes a prison sentence of five to ten years.
Why this matters
The criminalization of homosexuality in Niger marks a concerning trend in the region, where neighboring countries such as Burkina Faso, Mali, Senegal, and Ghana have also implemented or strengthened anti-LGBTQ+ laws. This shift towards increased penalties for homosexuality in West Africa has significant implications for the human rights and safety of LGBTQ+ individuals in the region. With Niger's population of 26 million, mostly Muslim, the new penal code will likely exacerbate existing stigmatization and persecution of LGBTQ+ people. The fact that homosexuality was not formally illegal in Niger before 2025 highlights the rapid deterioration of LGBTQ+ rights in the country. As the number of countries banning homosexuality grows to 66, according to Colin Stewart, it is essential to monitor the situation and provide support to LGBTQ+ individuals affected by these laws, emphasizing the importance of resources like the Trevor Project crisis line and the National LGBTQ Task Force.
About this story
Original reporting by LGBTQ Nation . LGBTQ News surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit LGBTQ Nation . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: rights ·
Published: June 15, 2026 ·
Source: LGBTQ Nation ·
Reading time: 1 min
newsletter" aria-label="Newsletter signup" style="margin:24px 0;padding:20px 24px;background:linear-gradient(135deg,#1e3a5f 0%,#2d5a8c 100%);border-radius:10px;color:#fff">
Get more LGBTQ News stories like this
Free weekly briefing covering rights and other local news. Curated by our editorial team. No spam.
By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy . Unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? The military junta that took over the Sahara nation of Niger in 2023 announced the country's new penal code last Friday. The new penal code criminalizes homosexuality and imposes a prison sentence of five to ten years. The AP notes that homosexuality wasn't formally illegal in Niger before 2025, but
When was this published? This article was first published on June 15, 2026 by LGBTQ Nation and curated for LGBTQ News readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Alex Bollinger at LGBTQ Nation. To learn more about how LGBTQ News selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more rights coverage from LGBTQ News, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .