In a forceful parliamentary address, Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko firmly rejected the notion of suspending the country’s newly enacted anti-homosexuality legislation, describing Western calls for such a move as a form of cultural tyranny.
The controversial law, which was approved by the National Assembly in early March and signed by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye on March 31, significantly toughens penalties for same-sex relationships. Offenders now face imprisonment ranging from five to ten years, a change that comes amid rising homophobia in the predominantly Muslim West African nation.
« There exists a form of tyranny, » declared Sonko during his speech. « With eight billion people on Earth, a small group—call it the West—has not reached a consensus on this issue, yet through its economic power and control of global media, it seeks to impose its views on the rest of the world. On what grounds? »
The prime minister dismissed criticisms emanating from abroad, particularly from France, where several public figures have condemned Senegal’s legislative shift. « If those countries have chosen these practices, that is their affair, » he stated. « We will accept no lessons from them—absolutely none. »
No compromise on enforcement
Sonko made it clear that Senegal has no intention of implementing a moratorium on the law’s enforcement, despite a petition signed by over thirty prominent figures of African descent published in a French newspaper. The petition highlighted what it described as a climate of fear, hatred, and violence gripping Senegal since the law’s passage. The prime minister dismissed such concerns, accusing local elites of being « burdened by complexes. »
« There will be no moratorium, » he asserted. « If the law needs to be strengthened further, it will be. We demand that the judiciary apply the legislation with total impartiality and rigor. The fundamental objective of this text is to curb the spread of homosexuality in our society. »
Same-sex relations have long been stigmatized in Senegal, and the government’s crackdown on LGBTQ+ rights has been a recurring political theme. The recent legislative changes reflect a broader societal stance that views such relationships as a moral deviation incompatible with national values.