Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko reaffirmed the government’s commitment to enforcing Senegal’s strict anti-homosexuality laws during a parliamentary address on May 22, 2026.

Sonko emphasized that Senegal, as a sovereign nation, reserves the right to define its moral boundaries without external interference. He stated that the overwhelming majority of Senegalese citizens oppose homosexuality, making its prohibition a matter of national consensus.

“The Senegalese people are sovereign. The vast majority of them do not accept certain practices in Senegal,” Sonko declared.

Confronting western pressure

Addressing criticism from both international observers and some African leaders, Sonko condemned what he described as a western-driven agenda to impose homosexuality globally. He argued that while debate within western societies remains unresolved, their media dominance allows them to pressure African nations to adopt policies that conflict with local values.

“There exists a form of tyranny. We are eight billion people in the world, yet a small group called the West, where the debate isn’t settled, uses its resources and media control to impose homosexuality elsewhere. On what grounds?” he questioned.

Sonko made it clear that no moratorium on the law would be considered after its adoption. “This law will be enforced,” he insisted.

The new legislation, adopted on March 27, 2026, amends Article 319 of the Senegalese Penal Code, broadening the definition of “acts against nature” and increasing penalties for those involved in or supporting such acts.

Under the revised law, “any sexual act between individuals of the same sex” is classified as an act against nature. Additionally, the law prohibits sexual acts between humans and animals, with offenders facing imprisonment from five to ten years and fines ranging from 2,000,000 to 10,000,000 West African CFA francs. These penalties apply even in cases of rape or pedophilia.