Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko made the announcement during a parliamentary session on May 22, 2026.
The remarks come as Western nations have criticized Senegal for strengthening penalties against same-sex relations, describing the move as a violation of human rights.
In response, Sonko emphasized that Senegal remains a sovereign nation with the right to uphold values that resonate with its people. “The Senegalese people are sovereign. The vast majority do not want these practices in our country,” he declared.
Rejecting Western moral impositions
Addressing criticism from African and international figures, including human rights lawyer Alice Nkom, Sonko framed the law as a defense against what he termed “Western moral tyranny.”
“There exists a form of tyranny. With eight billion people in the world, a small Western elite—despite internal divisions—uses its media influence to impose homosexuality globally. But on what authority?” he questioned.
The Prime Minister dismissed any possibility of a moratorium on the law’s enforcement, stating plainly, “This law will be applied in full.”
The National Assembly had earlier adopted Law No. 2026-08 on March 27, 2026, amending Article 319 of the 1965 Penal Code to broaden the definition and penalties for