Senegal’s Prime Minister Sonko intensifies stance against homosexuality
Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has sharply criticized what he calls Western pressure to “impose homosexuality worldwide,” as the country grapples with deep-rooted hostility toward LGBTQ+ individuals and recent arrests under anti-homosexuality laws.
In early March, Senegal enacted legislation doubling penalties for same-sex relations, raising prison terms from five to ten years. The bill was signed into law by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye on March 31.
Rejection of foreign criticism
Addressing lawmakers, Ousmane Sonko dismissed all foreign criticism, particularly from France. He also ruled out any moratorium on enforcing the law, despite a mid-May appeal from over thirty African-origin personalities in a widely discussed public statement. These figures warned of a “climate of fear, hatred, and violence” that has taken hold since the law’s passage.
“Putting an end to the ‘proliferation’ of homosexuality”
The Prime Minister instead urged the judiciary to enforce the law “fully and perfectly,” asserting that its goal was to halt the “proliferation” of homosexuality. While this rhetoric resonates politically in Senegal, it risks fueling stigmatization, denunciations, and violence. Even without embracing Western debates on the issue, upholding human dignity and protecting individuals from hatred should remain fundamental shared values.
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