Gambia has passed a bill which will impose a life sentence on people charged with “aggravated homosexuality”.

Gambia, which is already one of Africa’s most outspoken anti-gay countries, has increased the punishment for homosexual acts from 14 years to life in prison. The bill also targets those who are HIV positive, have had sex with minors or have had sex with someone who is disabled.

While laws punishing gay men have always been in place in the African country, it wasn’t until 2005 that laws were extended to punish women who engage in homosexual behaviour also.

The bill is expected to be approved by notoriously anti-gay President Yahya Jammeh (pictured), who in 2008 threatened to “behead” all gays who did not leave the country.

In February, the president said on state television, “We will fight these vermins called homosexuals or gays the same way we are fighting malaria-causing mosquitoes, if not more aggressively.”