In a forceful parliamentary address, Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has sharply criticized what he describes as Western ‘tyranny’ in attempting to impose LGBTQ+ values on African nations. Speaking Friday, Sonko dismissed concerns raised by international observers about Senegal’s enforcement of stricter penalties for same-sex relations.

The controversial legislation, enacted in late March by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, doubles the maximum prison sentence for ‘unnatural acts’—a legal term used to describe homosexual relationships—from five to ten years. Previously classified as a minor offense, same-sex relations are now subject to significantly harsher penalties under the new law.

Several arrests have already been made under these provisions, underscoring the government’s commitment to enforcement. Sonko argued that Western nations, despite representing a fraction of the global population, wield disproportionate influence through media control and economic leverage to push their agendas.

‘There is a form of tyranny at play,’ Sonko stated. ‘Out of eight billion people worldwide, a small group in the West—possessing vast resources and media dominance—seeks to impose these practices on the rest of the world, including Africa.’

The Prime Minister emphasized that Senegal rejects any external moralizing, particularly from former colonial powers, stating: ‘If they choose these practices, that is their concern—but we will not take lessons from them, absolutely not.’

Sonko’s remarks come amid international criticism, especially from European capitals, where rights groups have condemned the law as a violation of human dignity. However, the Prime Minister dismissed such critiques, asserting that no African, Asian, or Arab nation has joined the chorus against Senegal.

He further called on the judiciary to ensure the law is applied ‘fully and without exception.’ The legislation also introduces penalties of three to seven years imprisonment for individuals found guilty of promoting or financing same-sex relationships.

Sonko firmly rejected recent calls for a moratorium on the law’s enforcement, including an appeal published this month in a major French newspaper by a group of African-origin intellectuals. As Prime Minister since 2024, Sonko had previously vowed to criminalize homosexuality, elevating it from a minor offense to a felony under Senegalese law.