Senegal’s PM Sonko condemns western pressure on homosexuality laws

In early March, Senegal passed a law doubling penalties for homosexual relations, increasing sentences to between five and ten years in prison. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye signed the legislation into force on March 31.

Rejection of foreign criticism

During a parliamentary address, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko dismissed international criticism, particularly from Western nations, and ruled out any moratorium on the law’s enforcement. This stance came despite a mid-May appeal by over thirty African-origin personalities published in a major French outlet, warning of a growing “climate of fear, hatred, and violence” following the law’s passage.

The Prime Minister went further, calling for the law to be applied “fully and perfectly,” asserting that its purpose was to halt the “spread” of homosexuality—a rhetoric that resonates politically in Senegal. However, this approach risks deepening stigmatization, encouraging denunciations, and fueling violence against LGBTQ+ individuals.

“Putting an end to the proliferation of homosexuality”

While debates on LGBTQ+ rights often stem from Western perspectives, Senegal’s approach raises concerns about human dignity and the protection of minority groups. Criminalizing consensual adult relationships sets a dangerous precedent that could undermine social cohesion and basic human rights protections.