Senegal’s anti-homosexuality law to be strictly enforced, premier Sonko asserts

Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has firmly stated that the newly amended law criminalizing homosexuality will be enforced without exception.

Speaking during a parliamentary session on Friday, May 22, 2026, Sonko addressed growing criticism from Western nations regarding Senegal’s decision to increase penalties for what the law defines as “unnatural acts.”

The Prime Minister emphasized that Senegal, as a sovereign nation, has the right to uphold values that align with its societal norms. “The Senegalese people are sovereign. The overwhelming majority of them do not accept certain practices in Senegal,” Sonko declared.

He underscored the country’s determination to resist external pressure, framing the debate as a clash between Senegal’s cultural identity and what he described as Western imposition.

Confronting criticism with resolve

In response to dissenting voices within Africa, including legal advocate Me Alice Nkom, Sonko dismissed calls for a moratorium on the law’s enforcement. “There is a form of tyranny at play. With eight billion people worldwide, a small Western elite, despite internal divisions, seeks to impose homosexuality globally using their economic and media influence. By what right?” he questioned.

Sonko’s administration has made it clear that no concessions will be made. “This law will be applied,” he stated emphatically.

The legislation, officially passed as Law No. 2026-08 on March 27, 2026, amends Article 319 of the 1965 Penal Code, introducing stricter penalties for “acts against nature,” including same-sex relations, apologia, and financial support for such acts.

Under the revised law, “any sexual or sexually charged act between individuals of the same sex” is classified as an unnatural act. Additionally, the law extends its reach to include sexual acts involving a human corpse or an animal.

Violators face imprisonment ranging from five to ten years and fines between 2,000,000 and 10,000,000 West African CFA francs, irrespective of additional penalties for crimes such as rape or pedophilia.