In a bold parliamentary statement, Senegal‘s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko forcefully rejected international criticism of the nation’s stricter penalties for same-sex relations. Speaking to lawmakers, he condemned what he described as “a Western tyranny” attempting to “export homosexuality worldwide”.

The remarks came as Sonko reaffirmed his government’s unwavering stance against any suspension of the recently amended law, which increases punishments for LGBTQ+ individuals in the predominantly Muslim West African nation. His comments underscore the deepening divide between Senegal’s cultural values and Western human rights expectations.

During the address, Sonko framed the issue as a battle for national sovereignty, arguing that external forces seek to undermine traditional African norms by pushing progressive social policies. The Prime Minister’s fiery rhetoric signals a hardening of positions on both sides of the debate.