Keur Massar WhatsApp Arrests: 8 Women Charged with Unnatural Acts in Senegal

• Eight women were arrested in Keur Massar for allegedly engaging in unnatural acts.
• The arrests followed a complaint filed by one of the suspects' ex-partner via WhatsApp.
• An investigation revealed compromising conversations, photos, and videos suggesting same-sex relationships.
• The suspects face various charges, including association of malefactors and distribution of indecent images.

The increasing use of technology to organize clandestine practices raises concerns about public health and safety.

In a recent development, eight women were arrested in Keur Massar for allegedly engaging in unnatural acts. The arrests followed a complaint filed by one of the suspects' ex-partner, who accused her of sending threatening messages via WhatsApp. An investigation was launched after the complainant's phone was seized and analyzed by the Centre for Combating Cybercrime (CLCN). The analysis revealed compromising conversations, photos, and videos that suggested the women were involved in same-sex relationships. The suspects were subsequently charged with various offenses, including association of malefactors, unnatural acts, and distribution of indecent images.

The arrests highlight the increasing use of WhatsApp for organizing and facilitating unnatural acts in Dakar's suburbs. This trend raises concerns about the scale of clandestine practices. In Senegal, unnatural acts are punishable under Article 319 of the Penal Code, which prohibits 'acts against nature' between individuals of the same sex. This article was recently amended in 2026, significantly toughening penalties to a maximum of ten years' imprisonment and increasing fines, and also criminalizing the promotion, financing, and support of homosexuality, bisexuality, and transsexuality. The law also criminalizes the transmission of HIV without consent, as seen in a previous scandal involving hotelier Cheikh Ahmadou Guèye. His network used WhatsApp to organize similar activities, resulting in confirmed cases of voluntary HIV transmission.

This development underscores the need for lawyers to be aware of the trend of using social media platforms like WhatsApp to facilitate unnatural acts. They should advise clients on the risks associated with such activities, including the potential for arrest and prosecution under Senegal's laws. The increasing use of technology to organize clandestine practices also raises concerns about public health and safety. As the investigation continues, it is essential that authorities take a nuanced approach, balancing individual rights with the need to protect society from harm.

This development highlights the increasing use of WhatsApp for organizing and facilitating unnatural acts in Dakar's suburbs, raising concerns about the scale of clandestine practices. Lawyers should be aware of this trend and advise clients on the risks associated with such activities.

Source: Original reporting via Senegalese news outlet