Legal status in Niger according to the FCDO, August 2026
The FCDO writes: Same-sex relationships are illegal in Niger. The penalties are prison and fines. The exact text and the article of the Nigerien Penal Code are not verified in our sources, but the ban itself is confirmed by this official document.
Witnesses and organisers of a union also targeted
According to the same British source, Nigerien law extends to people who officiate, organise, act as witness to or consent to a same-sex marriage. A symbolic ceremony among friends, even a private one, can therefore expose several participants to prosecution.
No recognition possible for same-sex couples in Niger
In this context, no same-sex marriage, partnership or civil union can be registered in Niger. A couple formed abroad will not see their relationship recognised there and should avoid presenting it as such to the authorities.
Entrapment through apps: a documented risk
The FCDO warns that in some countries entrapment campaigns target LGBT+ people through popular dating apps. The US Department of State adds that police may create fake profiles. In Niger, treat every new online contact as a stranger.
Blackmail and extortion after a first contact
A fake profile can be used to obtain photos, an address or a date, then to threaten to report the person. Do not give in to a demand for money: keep the evidence, cut off contact and talk to someone you trust or to your consulate.
Protecting your phone and data in Niamey
Lock your phone with a code, turn off message previews and delete sensitive conversations. Show neither a recognisable face nor your workplace on a profile. A simple phone search can be enough to expose someone in Niger.
Photos: never an identifiable image
Do not share any photo showing your face, a tattoo, your home or a recognisable place in Niamey, Maradi or Agadez. An image once sent cannot be recovered and can be used as leverage months later.
A friend informed before every date in Niger
Before any date, give a trusted friend the displayed name, the place and the time, and agree on a check-in message. Meet first in public, without gestures of affection: according to the FCDO, public displays can attract attention.
Taimi, the only LGBT+ app verified for use in Niger
Taimi presents itself as an inclusive dating app for the whole LGBTQ+ spectrum, for over-18s, free in its basic version. Using it in Niger remains subject to criminal law, so a discreet account with no identifiable photo is essential.
Staying in Niger: alert your embassy
The State Department advises asking for the embassy to be informed in case of arrest, and the FCDO states that its consular services do not judge LGBT+ people. Before a stay in Niger, note your mission's contact details and sign up for official alerts.
Comparing with neighbouring Nigeria
Neighbouring Nigeria also imposes heavy penalties, up to the death penalty in some northern states according to the FCDO. See gay and lesbian dating in Nigeria. Both countries demand the same digital caution.
Other guides on Niger
For the country's general framework, read the guide to dating in Niger. If you are leaving a heterosexual marriage, the page on divorce in Niger details the unequal rules recorded by the World Bank in 2024.
Official sources and tools for LGBT+ people in Niger
- FCDO, sécurité au Niger: British page confirming that same-sex relations are illegal in Niger, updated in August 2026.
- FCDO, conseils LGBT+ aux voyageurs: General British advice: entrapment via apps, caution in public and non-judgemental consular support.
- Département d'État américain, voyageurs gays et lesbiennes: US warnings about fake police profiles, raids and free enrolment in the STEP programme.
- Taimi: LGBTQ+ dating app for over-18s only, free in its basic version according to its support pages.
Reducing the risks before an LGBT+ contact in Niger
- Reread the FCDO page on Niger to know the current state of the law before any trip or contact.
- Create a profile with no face, no full name and no clue about your neighbourhood or job.
- Verify the other person's identity with a brief video call before giving any personal information.
- Tell a trusted friend the place, the time and the person's username before each date.
- Cut off contact immediately and keep the evidence if a threat or a demand for money appears.
- Carry the contact details of your embassy or consulate throughout any stay in Niger.
Legal situation of LGBT+ people in Niger
| Key point | What the source says | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Same-sex relations | illegal | FCDO, 29 August 2026 |
| Penalties | prison and fines, length not published | FCDO, 29 August 2026 |
| People targeted besides the couple | officiants, witnesses, organisers of a union | FCDO, 29 August 2026 |
| Article of law | not verified | no readable source |
| Minimum age on Taimi | 18 | Taimi support, October 2026 |
What to keep on you during a stay in Niger
- Passport and a secure digital copy
- Contact details of your country's embassy or consulate
- Number of a trusted contact reachable at any time
- Proof of STEP enrolment for Americans
- Travel insurance certificate
Risks not to take in Niger
- Sending intimate or identifiable photos to an unknown contact in Niger, which opens the door to blackmail and extortion.
- Accepting a first date in a private home in Niger, when fake profiles are sometimes used to entrap LGBT+ people.
- Paying to stop a threat of being reported, as blackmail almost always resumes and the sum demanded grows.
- Showing your relationship in public or holding a symbolic ceremony, since the law also targets witnesses and organisers according to the FCDO.
- Keeping sensitive conversations and images on a phone that can be opened without a code during a check.
Questions from LGBT+ people about Niger
Is homosexuality illegal in Niger?
Yes. The British FCDO states, on its page updated 29 August 2026, that same-sex relations are illegal in Niger and punishable by prison and fines. The precise article of the Penal Code has not been verified in our sources.
Can you use a gay dating app in Niger?
Technically yes, but the FCDO reports entrapment campaigns through apps in some countries. In Niger, criminal law applies: a profile with no identifiable photo, video verification, no private dates and a trusted contact kept informed.
Does a foreign gay couple face any risk in Niger?
Nigerien law applies on its territory, including to foreigners, and the FCDO specifies that it also targets people involved in a union. Avoid any display of affection and keep your consulate's contact details during the stay.
What should you do if blackmailed after a date in Niger?
Do not pay, keep screenshots and numbers, block the contact and alert someone you trust. A foreign traveller can contact their embassy, and the FCDO says its consular services do not judge LGBT+ people.
Useful platforms and organisations
Human Rights Watch – LGBT Rights in AfricaHuman Rights Watch analysis of progress and setbacks for LGBT people's rights in several African countries.
Grindr for Equality – Holistic Security GuideGrindr's holistic security guide covering digital, physical and psychological safety for users in high-risk contexts.
Cybermalveillance.gouv.fr – Escroquerie sentimentaleGuidance from the French public platform explaining how to react, keep evidence and file a complaint after a romance scam.
Indicative list: AfriqueRencontres.com has no commercial link with these organisations. Never send money to someone you only know online.
Information up to date as of October 2026. AfriqueRencontres.com does not arrange meetings and never asks for money: never transfer money to someone you know only online.