Senegal’s Sonko rejects Western pressure on homosexuality debate

Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has made his stance crystal clear: Senegal will not impose a moratorium on enforcing laws against homosexuality. Speaking with unwavering conviction, he vowed to put an end to the alleged spread of such practices and assured that the justice system would pursue all cases to their conclusion. High-profile figures linked to the Prime Minister’s office have already faced arrests on suspicion of involvement in homosexual acts, and Sonko emphasized there would be no hiding of any individuals—regardless of their status.

Over the past three months alone, more than a hundred people have been detained on charges of unnatural acts, with some accused of deliberately spreading HIV. This crackdown comes amid growing calls from African intellectuals, who published an open letter on May 18 urging the government to suspend enforcement of these laws.

Rejecting outside interference

Sonko forcefully rejected any notion that Senegal should heed external criticism regarding the matter. In a scathing critique, he condemned what he described as Western tyranny, accusing foreign powers of attempting to impose their values through media control and undermine African sovereignty.

Amid the heated debate, Sonko also addressed Senegal’s staggering public debt, which now stands at 119% of the country’s GDP. While acknowledging the nation’s challenging economic conditions, he defended the government’s recovery plan and highlighted the improved revenue collection through stricter tax enforcement.

Finance Minister Cheikh Diba sought to reassure the public, stating that debt management is actively being addressed. He further announced that negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) would resume the week of June 8, with key elements of a new program expected to be finalized by June 30. These talks had been stalled since October 2025 due to disagreements over whether Senegal’s debt should be restructured.