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

The Senegalese Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko, delivered a forceful defense of his government’s policies in front of lawmakers at the National Assembly during his fifth session addressing urgent parliamentary questions since assuming office.

Government Unyielding on Controversial Legislation

Responding to inquiries about the recent amendment to the law that increases prison sentences for same-sex relations—following the detention of over a hundred individuals in just three months and a public appeal for a moratorium by African intellectuals on May 18—Sonko made it clear that the legislation would not be suspended.

Emphasizing the need to curb what he described as the “spread of homosexuality,” the Prime Minister called for the judiciary to enforce the law with “complete, impartial, and flawless” rigor. He underscored that no one would be exempt from accountability, citing recent high-profile arrests within his own political circle as evidence of the law’s indiscriminate application.

Confronting International Condemnation

As global criticism mounted against the controversial law, Sonko pushed back firmly against Western objections, specifically singling out France. In a defiant tone, he declared, “I have observed excessive posturing from certain foreign capitals, particularly in Paris.”

Accusing Western nations of attempting to “impose their values through media dominance,” he declared, “If they choose to embrace these practices, that is their affair—but Senegal will not accept lessons from anyone.” He further warned that the government would not hesitate to “strengthen the law further if necessary.”