Senegal’s Prime Minister condemns western ‘tyranny’ over homosexuality debate

Dakar — The Senegalese Prime Minister has strongly criticized Western nations for what he describes as an attempt to impose homosexuality on the rest of the world, amidst a new legal crackdown on same-sex relations in the predominantly Muslim West African nation.

In a fiery address to lawmakers, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko accused Western powers of attempting to “dictate moral standards” to the global community, while defending Senegal’s newly enacted legislation that doubles prison sentences for same-sex relations.

Speaking before the National Assembly on May 22, Sonko declared: “There exists a form of tyranny. With eight billion people on Earth, a small Western elite—despite internal disagreements—uses its media dominance to impose its views on the rest of humanity. By what right?”

New law doubles penalties for homosexuality

Adopted in early March and signed into law by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye on March 31, the controversial legislation increases penalties for same-sex relationships from previous terms to five to ten years imprisonment. The move follows a surge in homophobic incidents and multiple arrests linked to alleged homosexual conduct in the country.

The government has framed the law as a necessary measure to curb what it describes as the “proliferation of homosexuality” in Senegal, a nation where same-sex relations have long been socially taboo.

No moratorium on enforcement

Sonko dismissed calls for a moratorium on the law’s application, particularly from a group of thirty African-origin personalities who published a plea in a French newspaper mid-May. The petition cited concerns over a “climate of fear, hatred, and violence” allegedly intensified since the law’s passage.

“There will be no moratorium. Some of our elites are burdened by inferiority complexes,” Sonko asserted, adding that Senegal would not accept moral lessons from nations where homosexuality is legal. He emphasized that any perceived shortcomings in the law would only lead to stricter enforcement: “If the law needs to be strengthened, it will be.”

Government vows strict justice application

The Prime Minister insisted that the judiciary must apply the law with “total, impartial, and flawless” rigor, stressing that its primary goal is to eradicate the spread of homosexuality. He further argued that no Asian, African, or Arab nation has criticized Senegal’s stance, highlighting what he sees as global consensus against Western moral impositions.

The heated remarks reflect deepening societal divisions in Senegal, where traditional Islamic values clash with evolving international human rights discourse. The government’s uncompromising position signals a firm rejection of external pressure, even as critics warn of escalating persecution against LGBTQ+ individuals.