Senegal will not impose a moratorium on enforcing laws against homosexuality, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko declared firmly. He emphasized the need to curb what he termed the ‘spread’ of such acts and vowed that the justice system would pursue cases rigorously. ‘We won’t hide the big fish,’ Sonko stated, just days after several individuals close to the government faced arrests on allegations of presumed homosexuality.

His stance comes amid rising tensions, with over a hundred people detained in the past three months on charges related to ‘unnatural acts,’ some of whom also face accusations of deliberately transmitting HIV. The announcement follows a public appeal by African intellectuals, published on May 18, calling for a temporary halt to the enforcement of these laws.

Standing firm against external pressures

Sonko dismissed suggestions that Senegal should heed external advice on the matter, branding it ‘a western tyranny’ that seeks to impose its values through media control. ‘We need no lessons from anyone,’ he asserted, framing the debate as an attempt to undermine Senegalese sovereignty.

Addressing another pressing issue, Sonko acknowledged the country’s staggering public debt, now estimated at 119% of GDP. While conceding the ‘difficult economic situation,’ he defended his administration’s austerity measures and revenue-enhancing tax reforms.

Finance Minister Cheikh Diba sought to ease concerns, stating that debt management is actively being addressed. He also confirmed that negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) would resume during the week of June 8, with plans to finalize key terms of a new program by June 30. These discussions had stalled since October 2025 due to disagreements over whether Senegal’s debt required restructuring.