The Prime Minister of Senegal, Ousmane Sonko, has strongly criticized what he describes as Western ‘tyranny’ for attempting to impose homosexuality on the world. Speaking before the National Assembly, he firmly rejected any moratorium on the enforcement of a recently passed law that significantly increases penalties for same-sex relationships in the predominantly Muslim West African nation.
The controversial legislation, which doubles the prison sentences for homosexual acts to between five and ten years, was approved by the Senegalese parliament in early March and signed into law by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye on March 31. This move comes amid growing homophobia in the country, accompanied by a series of arrests related to alleged homosexual activity.
Western pressure and Senegal’s stance
During his address, Sonko questioned the motives behind Western efforts to promote homosexuality globally. ‘There exists a form of tyranny,’ he declared. ‘With eight billion people in the world, there is a small group called the West, where the debate on this issue is far from settled. Yet, because of their financial and media influence, they seek to impose their views on the rest of the world. But on what grounds?’ he challenged.
The Prime Minister took particular aim at France, where he claimed the law had sparked significant backlash. ‘If they have chosen to embrace these practices, that is their affair,’ he asserted. ‘We, however, have no lessons to learn from them—absolutely none.’
No compromise on enforcement
Sonko dismissed calls for a moratorium on the law’s application, which had been advocated by a group of around thirty personalities of African descent in a mid-May op-ed. These critics argued that the legislation had fostered an environment of fear, hatred, and violence in Senegal. ‘There will be no moratorium,’ Sonko declared. ‘Certain elites in our country are burdened by complexes.’
He further emphasized that Senegal would not bow to external pressure, stating, ‘Unlike the West, which seeks to impose its diktat, no Asian, African, or Arab country has criticized us. If the law needs to be strengthened, it will be.’ Sonko instructed the judiciary to ensure the law’s ‘total, impartial, and flawless’ enforcement, asserting that its primary goal is to ‘put an end to the spread of homosexuality.’
Cultural and political context
>Same-sex relationships are widely stigmatized in Senegal, and the tightening of legal penalties has been a long-standing promise of the ruling coalition, carrying significant political weight in the country.