During a session at the National Assembly this Friday, May 22, Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko delivered a staunch defense of his administration’s policies. This appearance marked his fifth time addressing lawmakers’ questions since the Pastef party took the helm of the country.
Firm stance on legal enforcement
When questioned about the recent legislative tightening that increases prison sentences for homosexual acts, Ousmane Sonko was unequivocal. Despite a petition from various African intellectuals calling for a stay on the law and more than one hundred arrests occurring over the past three months, the Prime Minister ruled out any possibility of suspending the current statutes.
He expressed a clear intent to halt the expansion of these practices within the country. To achieve this, he demanded that the judicial system ensure a “total, impersonal, and flawless” execution of the law. He further clarified that high-profile individuals would not receive special treatment, stressing that even “big fish”—a nod to recent detainees linked to his own circles—must face the full weight of the legal system.
Rejection of foreign interference
The Prime Minister did not hold back in his response to the international condemnation sparked by these legal measures. Ousmane Sonko specifically pointed toward France, noting that he had observed significant “gesticulations” coming from abroad regarding Senegal’s internal affairs.
He described the pressure as a form of “Western tyranny,” arguing that certain nations are attempting to impose their social norms on the rest of the world through their dominance of global media. “If they have chosen these practices, that is their concern, but we have absolutely no lessons to learn from them,” he asserted during the assembly session.
Potential for stricter measures
Concluding his remarks, Ousmane Sonko signaled that the government’s position could become even more rigid. He warned that if the current legal framework is deemed insufficient, the administration is prepared to further strengthen the laws to protect national values and social standards.
