In early March, Senegal passed legislation doubling prison sentences for same-sex relationships, extending penalties from five to ten years. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye signed the bill into law on March 31.

International criticism met with defiance

Addressing legislators, Sonko dismissed foreign criticism—particularly from France—and ruled out any moratorium on enforcement. His remarks followed a mid-May appeal by over thirty African-origin public figures, who warned in a statement of rising fear, hatred, and violence following the law’s passage.

“Ending the ‘proliferation’ [of homosexuality],” Sonko declared, calling for its complete eradication.

The Prime Minister ordered judicial authorities to apply the law fully and rigorously, framing its enforcement as essential to curbing LGBTQ+ identities. While this rhetoric resonates politically across Senegal, it risks deepening societal divisions, fueling denunciations, and normalizing discrimination against already marginalized communities.

Even without engaging Western debates on LGBTQ+ rights, the state’s obligation to uphold human dignity and prevent hate-driven violence remains uncompromising.