On Friday, Sénégal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko spoke out against what he termed Western “tyranny” regarding the promotion of LGBTQ+ values. He explicitly rejected any outside interference intended to block the enforcement of a new national law that increases prison sentences for same-sex relations.
In the predominantly Muslim nation of Sénégal, matters concerning the LGBTQ+ community have sparked significant tension in recent years. Many local leaders view the advocacy for gay rights as an attempt by Western nations to impose foreign cultural standards on the country.
Defending national values and legal sovereignty
Earlier this year, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye gave his assent to legislation that effectively doubles the maximum penalties for same-sex activities. Following the implementation of this law, authorities have already carried out dozens of arrests.
During an address to deputies, Sonko argued that a small global minority is attempting to dictate terms to the rest of the world. “There is a form of tyranny at play. While there are eight billion people on Earth, a small group known as the West—leveraging its wealth and media influence—seeks to impose this on everyone else,” the Prime Minister stated.
A rejection of foreign dictates
Sonko highlighted that the new legislation has drawn sharp criticism from abroad, particularly from France. He remained firm in his position, asserting that Sénégal has no obligation to follow the social models of other countries. “If they have chosen these lifestyles, that is their business, but we have absolutely no lessons to learn from them,” he remarked.
The Prime Minister further noted that unlike the West’s attempt to “impose its diktat,” no nations in the Arab world, Asia, or elsewhere in Africa have criticized the decisions made by Sénégal. He called upon the judicial system to ensure the “full and total” application of the law.
Under the updated penal code, “acts against nature”—the legal term used to describe same-sex relations—now carry prison terms of five to ten years, a significant jump from the previous range of one to five years. Additionally, the law establishes sentences of three to seven years for anyone found to be funding or promoting such relations.
Sonko also dismissed calls for a “moratorium” on the law’s application, which had been suggested by several public figures in a recent European publication. Prior to his appointment as Prime Minister in 2024, Sonko had campaigned on a platform of toughening these laws, promising to reclassify such acts as more serious criminal offenses.
