Local Laws

CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While in Senegal, you are subject to its laws. If you break local laws, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than those in the United States. In some places, you may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you. In some places, it is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings. In Senegal, it is forbidden to photograph embassies, military installations, and police stations. For other buildings, such as government ministries, it is best to ask the security personnel guarding the building first before taking any pictures.

There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States. You can be prosecuted in the United States for engaging in sexual conduct with children or for using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country regardless of the legality of these activities under that country’s laws.

Arrest notifications in host country: While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in that country, others may not. To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas. U.S. citizens are encouraged to carry a copy of their U.S. passports with them at all times, so that, if questioned by local officials, proof of identity and U.S. citizenship is readily available. If arrested, U.S. citizens should always ask to be allowed to contact the U.S. embassy.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Senegal is generally a very tolerant society, and 95 percent of the Senegalese population practice Islam. Be mindful of local social and cultural mores.

Personal Identification: Senegalese law requires all persons to carry personal identification at all times, and all Senegalese law enforcement officials have the authority to challenge suspicious activity and to request personal identification. Be aware that they may request personal identification even without cause. Authorities may detain a U.S. citizen who does not cooperate and provide identification up to 48 hours without filing formal charges.

Tourist Tax: In some locations, such as the popular tourist attraction Goree Island, local officials may legally charge tourists a tax when they visit. However, notices of the tax and payment locations are not always clearly posted. If in doubt, please ask the official for paperwork and a receipt upon payment.

Currency: Senegal’s currency is the Central African Franc (CFA), which has a fixed exchange rate to the euro. Avoid using ATMs in Senegal, as they can be a source of identity theft. MasterCard debit cards do not work in most of Senegal’s ATMs; Visa debit cards sometimes do. Travelers can get cash and/or traveler's checks through international credit cards, such as MasterCard, Visa, and American Express, by presenting their credit card at a local financial institution sponsoring their card.

U.S. Government Sanctions: Until further notice, all U.S. citizens in Senegal are advised not to subscribe to or purchase services or equipment from the Sudatel/Expresso telecommunications company. The U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has identified Sudatel as a company owned or controlled by the Government of Sudan. U.S. sanctions prohibit U.S. citizens from doing business with companies owned or controlled by the Government of Sudan unless authorized by OFAC. In addition, there may be other companies operating in Senegal which, given their relationship with countries subject to sanctions, might also be on OFAC’s list. For further information, you may email the OFAC compliance division at OFAC_feedback@do.treas.gov or call the OFAC hotline at 202-622-2490.

WOMEN TRAVELER INFORMATION: If you are a woman traveling abroad, please review our travel tips for Women Travelers.

LGBT RIGHTS: Consensual same-sex sexual relations are criminalized in Senegal. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Intersex (LGBTI) individuals routinely face discrimination, and there is strong societal disapproval. Under Article 319 of the Senegalese penal code, “unnatural acts” are punishable by imprisonment of one to five years and a fine of CFA 1,000,000 (USD $2,000). While authorities have not dedicated significant resources to prosecuting individuals under this article, there have been several recent prosecutions. In September 2014, two men were arrested after police caught them kissing behind the presidential palace. In February 2014, a judge sentenced two men to six months in jail after they admitted in court to having consensual same-sex sexual relations. The men were arrested after a neighbor told police they were living together. In November 2013, five women were arrested for violating the law at a birthday party in a bar in Dakar. Following several days in prison, where they were harassed, the women were released due to a lack of evidence. In October 2012, a court in Dakar sentenced a man for violating the law. In January 2012, two women were arrested following the circulation of a cell phone video that showed them kissing. They were detained and released on bail several days later but were never formally charged with a crime. These incidents were widely covered in local print and online media. Acts of aggression by the pubic based on sexual orientation are considered routine. 

For more detailed information about LGBT rights in Senegal, you may review the State Department’s annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. For further information on LGBTI travel, please read our LGBTI Travel Information page.

ACCESSIBILITY: That there are almost no accommodations made for individuals with disabilities in Senegal. The few that exist are inadequate or very different from what you will find in the United States.