Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has vowed to enforce the country’s newly toughened legislation against homosexual acts.

Speaking during a parliamentary session on May 22, 2026, Sonko addressed growing criticism from Western nations regarding Senegal’s decision to increase penalties for what it terms “unnatural acts.”

The Prime Minister emphasized that Senegal, as a sovereign nation, reserves the right to protect its cultural values against practices deemed unacceptable by its society.

“The Senegalese people are sovereign. The vast majority rejects certain practices within our borders,” Sonko declared.

Pushback against Western influence

In response to criticism from some African elites, including prominent Cameroonian lawyer Alice Nkom, Sonko dismissed calls for a moratorium on enforcement. He argued that a vocal minority in the West, despite internal debates, seeks to impose its views globally through media dominance.

“There exists a form of tyranny. With eight billion people worldwide, a small Western faction—despite unresolved internal debates—leverages its economic and media power to force homosexuality upon the rest of the globe. But on what authority?” Sonko questioned.

He categorically ruled out any moratorium, stating: “This law will be enforced.”

The National Assembly passed Law No. 2026-08 on March 27, 2026, amending Article 319 of the 1965 Penal Code to broaden the definition of “unnatural acts” and increase penalties, including provisions against advocacy and financing of such acts.

Under the new legislation, “any sexual act between individuals of the same sex” is classified as an unnatural act. Additionally, the law criminalizes sexual acts with corpses or animals, regardless of the perpetrator’s gender.

Violators face imprisonment of 5 to 10 years and fines ranging from 2 million to 10 million West African CFA francs, with harsher penalties if the act involves rape or pedophilia.