In a forceful parliamentary address, Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko pushed back against mounting criticism of the nation’s toughened penalties for same-sex relations, branding the growing demands for leniency as a Western-driven tyranny intent on exporting homosexuality worldwide.
Speaking before lawmakers on a packed Friday session, Sonko vowed to uphold the recently enacted legislation without pause, dismissing calls for a moratorium as both misguided and unacceptable. The new law, which substantially increases prison terms for individuals convicted of homosexual acts, has drawn sharp condemnation from human rights advocates and Western governments alike.
The Prime Minister framed the international backlash as an attempt by foreign powers to undermine Senegal’s sovereignty and traditional values. “No foreign dictate will dictate our laws or dictate our moral compass,” he declared, underscoring the government’s resolve to maintain the statute as currently written.
The heated remarks come at a time when Senegal, a predominantly Muslim West African nation, finds itself at the center of a global debate over LGBTQ+ rights. While supporters of the law argue it protects cultural and religious norms, critics warn it entrenches discrimination and violates fundamental human rights.