On Friday, Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko sharply criticized what he described as Western « tyranny » attempting to « impose » LGBTQ+ values on the country. He firmly rejected any efforts to delay or obstruct the enforcement of a newly enacted law that significantly increases penalties for same-sex relationships.

Debates surrounding LGBTQ+ rights have sparked intense controversy in Senegal, a predominantly Muslim nation where the promotion of LGBTQ+ rights is widely viewed as an imposition of foreign ideologies. The government has consistently maintained that such values conflict with national and religious principles.

In late March, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye signed legislation doubling the maximum prison sentence for same-sex relations, escalating penalties from one to five years to five to ten years. Since its passage, authorities have already carried out multiple arrests under this law.

« There is a form of tyranny at play, » Sonko declared during an address to legislators. « With eight billion people in the world, a small group known as the West—possessing vast resources and control over global media—seeks to impose these practices on the rest of humanity. »

He emphasized that while Western nations aggressively promote LGBTQ+ rights, no Asian, African, or Arab country has criticized Senegal’s stance. Sonko underscored the government’s resolve to fully implement the new legislation without compromise.

« If they choose to embrace these practices, that is their affair, » he stated. « But we have no lessons to learn from them—none whatsoever. »

Sonko also called on the judiciary to ensure the law is applied « fully and rigorously, » warning against any attempts to undermine its enforcement. The legislation not only intensifies penalties for same-sex acts but also introduces prison terms of three to seven years for individuals found guilty of promoting or financing such relationships.

Earlier this month, a group of thirty prominent figures of African descent published an editorial in a major French newspaper urging a moratorium on the law’s implementation. Sonko dismissed the appeal outright, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to upholding the legislation. He further noted that prior to assuming office as Prime Minister in 2024, he had pledged to criminalize homosexuality, elevating the offense from a minor misdemeanor to a serious crime.