Senegal

“Imposing homosexuality”: Prime Minister Sonko’s fiery condemnation of Western interference

In a blunt parliamentary address, Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko delivered a stinging rebuke to Western nations, accusing them of attempting to “impose homosexuality” on the rest of the world through what he termed a “tyranny” of cultural dominance.

The remarks came just weeks after Senegal’s parliament approved a sweeping legal reform doubling prison sentences for same-sex relations—from five to ten years—before the measure was signed into law by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye on March 31. The legislation arrives amid a rising tide of anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment in the country, marked by multiple arrests under suspicion of homosexuality.

Rejecting Western moral dictates

During his speech to lawmakers, Sonko framed the issue as a clash between Senegal’s sovereignty and what he described as an aggressive push by Western powers to export their values.

« There is a form of tyranny at work, » he declared. « The world is home to eight billion people, yet a small group—what we call the West—where even internal debate remains unresolved, wields disproportionate influence through media control and economic leverage. They seek to impose their worldview on the rest of us. But on what authority? »

He went on to dismiss criticism from abroad, particularly from France, stating, « If they have chosen these practices, that is their affair. But we will accept no lessons from them—absolutely none. »

No room for compromise

Sonko made it unequivocally clear that Senegal would not entertain any calls for a moratorium on the law’s enforcement. « While Western powers attempt to dictate terms, not a single Asian, African, or Arab nation has raised objections, » he asserted. « If this law needs to be strengthened further, it will be. »

He directed the judiciary to apply the legislation with « total, impartial, and flawless » rigor, emphasizing that the law’s primary goal is to « curb the spread of homosexuality » in Senegal.

His stance followed a mid-May open letter published in a French newspaper, signed by around thirty African-origin personalities, urging a halt to the law’s implementation. The signatories cited a « climate of fear, hatred, and violence » they claimed had taken root in Senegal since the bill’s passage. Sonko dismissed their concerns outright, accusing segments of the country’s elite of being « burdened by inferiority complexes. »

Political resonance in a conservative nation

Same-sex relations remain widely stigmatized in Senegal, where they are viewed as a moral deviation. The government’s tough-on-LGBTQ+ stance has long been a politically potent issue in the country, resonating strongly with conservative and religious constituencies.