Senegal prime minister defends anti lgbtq law amid global criticism

During a heated session at the Senegal National Assembly on May 22, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko vigorously defended his administration’s controversial stance against same-sex relations. This was the fifth time he addressed parliamentary inquiries since the Pastef coalition took office.

The Prime Minister was directly questioned about the recently enacted legislation that increases prison sentences for individuals involved in homosexual acts. Over the past three months, more than a hundred people have been detained under this law, prompting a wave of dissent from African intellectuals who publicly called for its suspension in a widely circulated statement on May 18.

Sonko made it clear that the government has no intention of revisiting the law. Emphasizing the need to curb what he described as the « spread of homosexuality, » he demanded that the judiciary enforce the legislation with « full, impartial, and rigorous » precision. He also stressed that no one, regardless of status or influence, would be exempt from prosecution, pointing to recent arrests that included prominent figures allegedly connected to his political circle.

In response to mounting international backlash, particularly from Western nations, Sonko dismissed the criticism outright. He singled out France directly, stating that he had observed « excessive posturing » from certain foreign capitals. Rejecting what he termed the « tyranny of the West, » which he accused of attempting to impose LGBTQ+ values globally through media control, he declared, « If they choose these practices, that is their burden to bear—but we will not accept their lessons, not now, not ever. » He further warned that the government remains prepared to tighten the law even further if deemed necessary.