Senegal’s prime minister stands firm on anti-homosexuality law amid global backlash

On May 22, Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko delivered a fiery defense of his government’s policies during a heated session in the National Assembly, marking his fifth appearance in the ongoing questions d’actualité since the Pastef administration took office.

The session took a sharp turn when Sonko was questioned about the recent legislation that toughens prison sentences for same-sex relations. Over the past three months alone, more than a hundred individuals have been detained under this law, prompting public outcry from prominent African intellectuals who issued a joint statement on May 18 calling for a temporary halt to its enforcement. Yet the Prime Minister dismissed any possibility of suspending the controversial statute.

With an unyielding stance, Sonko vowed to stamp out what he described as the “rampant spread” of homosexuality in the country. He called for a strict, impartial, and rigorous application of the law, emphasizing that no one—regardless of status—would be spared from prosecution. His remarks came in the wake of high-profile arrests, including individuals close to his inner circle.

As international criticism mounted against the law, Sonko struck back at Western detractors, singling out Paris for its vocal opposition. Describing the pressure as part of a broader “tyranny of the West,” he accused certain foreign powers of attempting to export their cultural values through media control, declaring: “If they choose these practices, that’s their issue—but we will not accept their moral lessons, not now, not ever.” He went further, warning that if necessary, the government would not hesitate to intensify the law’s penalties.