On Friday, Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko criticized Western nations for what he described as an attempt to impose LGBTQ+ values, rejecting any interference that could delay the enforcement of a recently passed law that toughens penalties for same-sex relationships.

Debates surrounding LGBTQ+ rights have intensified in Senegal, a predominantly Muslim country, where advocacy for gay rights is widely perceived as an imposition of foreign cultural norms.

The law, signed into effect by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye in late March, doubles the maximum prison sentence for same-sex relations from one to five years to five to ten years.

Since its implementation, dozens of arrests have already been recorded under the new legislation.

« There is a form of tyranny at play. With eight billion people in the world, a small group—referred to as the West—possesses the resources and controls global narratives, yet insists on forcing these practices on the rest of humanity, » Sonko declared during an address to lawmakers in this West African nation.

He emphasized that Senegal would not bow to external pressure, particularly from France, where criticism of the law has been vocal.

« If they choose this path, that is their decision. However, we reject any notion of adopting such values, » he stated firmly.

Arguing that no African, Asian, or Arab nation has condemned Senegal’s stance, Sonko insisted that the judiciary must apply the law in full.

The revised legislation not only increases penalties for « unnatural acts »—a term used to describe same-sex relations—but also introduces prison sentences of three to seven years for anyone found guilty of promoting or financing such relationships.

Sonko dismissed calls for a moratorium on enforcement, including a recent appeal from over thirty African-origin public figures published in a French newspaper. Prior to his current role, Sonko had pledged to criminalize same-sex relations, reclassifying the offense from a minor misdemeanor to a more severe crime.