Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has firmly rejected any possibility of halting the enforcement of laws against homosexuality, vowing to curb what he calls the ‘proliferation’ of such acts. His remarks come amid a recent wave of arrests targeting individuals accused of violating these laws, including several associates of the Prime Minister himself.
Over the past three months, more than a hundred people have been detained on charges related to ‘unnatural acts,’ with some also accused of deliberately spreading HIV. The crackdown has drawn criticism from African intellectuals, who published a joint statement on May 18 calling for a moratorium on the application of these laws.
No room for western moral impositions
Sonko’s stance remains uncompromising. ‘We will not accept lectures from anyone,’ he declared, lambasting what he described as ‘a tyranny of the West’ seeking to impose its values through media control. The Prime Minister accused Western powers of attempting to normalize homosexuality globally, framing it as an affront to Senegalese sovereignty and cultural values.
Amid the heated debate, Sonko also addressed Senegal’s economic challenges, highlighting the country’s staggering public debt, which now stands at 119% of GDP. While acknowledging the nation’s difficult economic situation, he defended his administration’s recovery plan, emphasizing improved tax collection as a key revenue driver.
The finance minister weighs in on debt negotiations
The Minister of Finance, Cheikh Diba, sought to reassure the public about the debt situation, stating that ‘efforts are underway to manage it effectively.’ He also announced the resumption of talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in early June, with the goal of finalizing a new program framework by June 30. These discussions were suspended in October 2025 due to disagreements over whether Senegal’s debt required restructuring.