Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has firmly rejected calls for a moratorium on the enforcement of laws criminalizing homosexuality, vowing to crack down on what he describes as the «proliferation» of such acts. He emphasized that no one will be spared, including prominent figures, as several individuals close to the government have already been arrested on suspicion of engaging in same-sex relations.

Over the past three months, more than a hundred people have been detained under accusations of « acts against nature » and, in some cases, of deliberately spreading HIV. This crackdown has drawn criticism from African intellectuals who, in a recent public statement, urged authorities to temporarily halt the application of these laws.

« We refuse to be lectured by the West »

Sonko doubled down on his stance, declaring that Senegal « will not accept lectures » on this issue. He accused Western powers of attempting to impose their values through media control, framing the push for LGBTQ+ rights as an attempt at cultural domination.

Addressing the nation’s pressing economic challenges, Sonko acknowledged the country’s « difficult situation, » with public debt soaring to 119% of GDP. He defended his administration’s economic recovery plan, highlighting increased tax revenue as a key measure to stabilize finances.

The Minister of Finance, Cheikh Diba, sought to ease concerns, stating that debt management is under control. He also announced the resumption of negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in early June, aiming to finalize a new program by the end of the month. Discussions were previously suspended in October 2025 due to unresolved disagreements over whether Senegal’s debt should be restructured.