During a parliamentary session, Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko declared the government’s unwavering stance on the newly enacted legislation that tightens penalties for homosexual acts in Senegal.

The prime minister made this announcement on May 22, 2026, while responding to lawmakers’ questions in the National Assembly. His remarks come amid growing international criticism, particularly from Western nations, regarding Senegal’s decision to impose harsher penalties for acts deemed “against nature.”

Sonko emphasized Senegal’s sovereignty, stressing that the country reserves the right to protect its cultural and moral values against practices that do not align with the majority of its society.

“The Senegalese people are sovereign. The overwhelming majority of our citizens do not accept these practices,” Sonko asserted, rejecting external pressure to reconsider the legislation.

Condemning Western influence

In response to criticisms from certain African and international figures, including Cameroonian lawyer Alice Nkom, Sonko framed the debate as an attempt by the West to impose its values on the rest of the world.

“There is a form of tyranny at play. With eight billion people in the world, a small Western elite—despite its internal divisions—uses its economic and media dominance to push its agenda globally. But on what grounds?” he questioned.

Sonko dismissed any possibility of a moratorium on the law’s enforcement, reaffirming, “This law will be applied without exception.”

The National Assembly adopted Law No. 2026-08 on March 27, 2026, amending Article 319 of the Penal Code (Law No. 65-60 of July 21, 1965) to broaden the scope of punishable offenses related to “acts against nature.”

The revised law now explicitly defines “acts against nature” as any sexual act between individuals of the same sex. It also criminalizes sexual acts involving corpses or animals, as well as the advocacy or financing of such acts.

Under the new provisions, individuals found guilty of these offenses face imprisonment ranging from five to ten years and fines between 2 million and 10 million CFA francs. These penalties apply regardless of additional charges related to rape or pedophilia.