Articles by Liv Tønnessen

July 2, 2026

🌈 Queer rights in Nigeria: the bureaucracy of survival

Liv Tønnessen
Nigerian queer activists have achieved a High Court ruling declaring parts of the country's Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act unconstitutional. Yet registrars, banks, police, and landlords are refusing to honour the ruling, reducing it to a mere 'victory on paper'. Matthew K. Gichohi, Ayodele Sogunro, and Liv Tønnessen argue that queer rights are eroded through bureaucracy, not legislation
Read more
photograph of Liv Tønnessen
Liv Tønnessen
Research Professor, Chr. Michelsen Institute

Liv is a feminist political scientist whose work examines gender, politics, and social movements in African contexts, with a particular focus on feminist and queer activism.

Drawing on more than two decades of research on Sudan, her scholarship is grounded in long-term collaboration with local scholars and activists and a commitment to co-producing knowledge.

Her recent work explores how queer organising takes shape under shifting political conditions, bringing comparative insight from Sudan to debates on sexuality and activism in Nigeria.

LinkedIn

ORCiD

The Loop

Cutting-edge analysis showcasing the work of the political science discipline at its best.
Read more
THE EUROPEAN CONSORTIUM FOR POLITICAL RESEARCH
Advancing Political Science
© 2026 European Consortium for Political Research. The ECPR is a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) number 1167403 ECPR, Harbour House, 6-8 Hythe Quay, Colchester, CO2 8JF, United Kingdom.
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram