Prime Minister Sonko condemns Western interference

Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko strongly criticized what he termed the “tyranny of the West” regarding homosexuality during a parliamentary address on Friday, May 21. He accused Western nations of attempting to impose their cultural values on the global stage, stating, “Out of eight billion people, a small group—the West, with its economic and media dominance—seeks to dictate norms to the rest of humanity.”

New law intensifies penalties

The Senegalese government enacted a stricter law in early March, increasing prison sentences for same-sex relations from five to ten years. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye signed the legislation into force on March 31. Sonko reiterated the government’s refusal to consider any moratorium or suspension of the law’s enforcement.

Deeply divisive issue in Senegal

In this predominantly Muslim West African nation, homosexuality remains a highly contentious topic across political, religious, and societal spheres. While human rights advocates have condemned the new legislation, supporters argue it aligns with Senegal’s cultural and religious principles. The government maintains that its stance reflects national sovereignty amid international criticism.