Several West African countries have recently enacted or strengthened laws criminalizing homosexuality, marking a concerning trend of increased repression against LGBTQ+ communities. Uganda passed a particularly harsh law in 2023, potentially imposing the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality,” though capital punishment hasn’t been enforced for years. Burkina Faso, Niger, and Senegal have also recently introduced or increased penalties, including prison sentences of up to 20 years for same-sex marriage in Niger and doubled sentences in Senegal. Ghana’s parliament is considering legislation with up to five years imprisonment for promoting LGBTQ+ activities. Over a hundred individuals have been arrested in Senegal since the beginning of the year under the new laws, with one man already sentenced to six years in prison. Explanations for this shift include electoral strategies, rejection of Western values, and a rise in conservative ideologies.