Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has confirmed the country will enforce its toughened anti-homosexuality law.

The statement came during a parliamentary session on May 22, 2026, where Sonko addressed both domestic and international reactions to the new legislation.

The law, which increases penalties for same-sex relations, has drawn criticism from Western governments and human rights organizations. Sonko defended the legislation by emphasizing Senegal’s sovereignty and cultural values.

“The Senegalese people are sovereign. The vast majority do not want these practices in Senegal,” Sonko declared.

“A form of Western tyranny”

Responding to critics like Cameroonian lawyer Alice Nkom, Sonko condemned what he described as attempts by Western powers to impose LGBTQ+ rights globally.

“There is a form of tyranny at play. We have eight billion people in the world, but a small group calling itself the West—where the debate remains unsettled—uses its economic and media influence to force homosexuality on the rest of the world. On what grounds?” Sonko questioned.

He firmly rejected any possibility of a moratorium on the law’s implementation. “This law will be enforced,” he asserted.

The National Assembly passed law no. 2026-08 on March 27, 2026, amending article 319 of the 1965 Penal Code to strengthen penalties for “unnatural acts.”

The new law provides a clear definition of these acts, increases penalties, and criminalizes their advocacy and financing.

According to the legislation, an “unnatural act” includes any sexual act between individuals of the same sex. The law also extends to sexual acts involving corpses or animals.

Violators face imprisonment of five to ten years and fines ranging from 2,000,000 to 10,000,000 CFA francs, with additional penalties for cases involving rape or pedophilia.