In a firm stance, Ousmane Sonko, Senegal’s Prime Minister, has ruled out any moratorium on the enforcement of laws against homosexuality, vowing to curb what he termed the “proliferation” of such acts. He emphasized that justice would take full force, asserting that no high-profile figures would be spared. His remarks come amid arrests of several individuals close to the Prime Minister, accused of presumed homosexuality.

Senegal has seen over a hundred people detained in the past three months under accusations of unnatural acts, some of which involve alleged intentional transmission of HIV. This crackdown follows calls from African intellectuals for a moratorium on the law’s application, as expressed in a published opinion piece on May 18.

“We reject western intervention”

Sonko doubled down, stating unequivocally, “We reject any lessons from the West” on this matter. He condemned what he described as “a tyranny of the West”, accusing it of attempting to impose homosexuality globally through media control.

Addressing the nation’s economic challenges, Sonko acknowledged the country’s dire fiscal situation, with public debt soaring to 119% of GDP. Despite this, he defended his administration’s economic recovery plan, highlighting improved tax collection as a financial lifeline.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Finance, Cheikh Diba, sought to reassure the public, stating that debt management strategies were underway. He announced the resumption of negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) starting the week of June 8, aiming to finalize a new program framework by June 30. These discussions have been stalled since October 2025 due to disagreements over whether Senegal’s debt required restructuring.