Senegal’s prime minister stands firm on anti-homosexuality law amid global backlash

The Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko delivered a robust defense of his government’s policies during a heated parliamentary session on May 22, marking his fifth high-stakes address since taking office.

Addressing lawmakers’ concerns over the newly enacted legislation that imposes stricter prison sentences for same-sex relationships—amid over a hundred arrests in just three months and a wave of criticism from African intellectuals—a resolute Sonko dismissed any possibility of reversing the measure. He emphasized the government’s commitment to eradicating what it terms the “spread of homosexuality,” calling for an unwavering, impartial, and thorough enforcement of the law. In a pointed remark, he underscored that no individual, regardless of status, would be spared prosecution, referencing recent high-profile detentions within his own political circle.

As international condemnation mounted, Sonko pushed back forcefully against Western backlash, singling out France in his remarks. He accused certain foreign capitals of orchestrating what he described as a deliberate campaign to normalize homosexuality globally, asserting, “If they choose such practices, that is their affair—but we will not accept lectures from anyone.”

With defiance in his tone, he went further, warning that the government would not hesitate to escalate the law’s severity if deemed necessary, declaring, “If the law needs strengthening, it will be strengthened.”