During a heated address to lawmakers, Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko forcefully condemned what he described as “a western tyranny” seeking to “force homosexuality upon the world”. His remarks came in response to the newly enacted legislation that significantly increases penalties for same-sex relations in the predominantly Muslim nation.

In front of the National Assembly, Sonko made it clear that the government has no intention of suspending or softening the controversial law, emphasizing that Senegal will not yield to external pressures. The prime minister framed the issue as a matter of national sovereignty and cultural integrity, arguing that foreign powers should not dictate moral standards to West Africa.

The debate surrounding the law has intensified in recent weeks, with Sonko framing the Western push for LGBTQ+ rights as an attempt to erode traditional values across Africa. His stance underscores the growing resistance in Senegal to what many officials view as cultural imperialism disguised as human rights advocacy.