PM in Muslim-majority Senegal condemns Western 'tyranny' for 'imposing homosexuality on the rest of the world'

By PERKIN AMALARAJ, FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER Published: 13:40, 22 May 2026 | Updated: 13:51, 22 May 2026 Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko today condemned Western 'tyranny' in wanting to 'impose' homosexuality 'on the rest of the world' and rejected any attempt to stop the application of a new law toughening sentences for same-sex relations. LGBTQ issues have stirred controversy in Muslim-majority Senegal in recent years and gay rights advocacy is frequently denounced as a tool used by Westerners to impose foreign values. In late March, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye signed into law legislation doubling the maximum penalty for same-sex relations, amid a crackdown on the country's gay community. 'There are eight billion human beings in the world, but there is a small nucleus called the West which, because it has resources and controls the media, wants to impose it [homosexuality] on the rest of the world,' Sonko said in an address to lawmakers in the west African country. The new law punishes 'acts against nature', a term used to signify same-sex relations, by five to 10 years' imprisonment, compared with one to five years previously. It also provides for three to seven years in prison for those found guilty of promoting or financing same-sex relationships. Sonko, before becoming Senegal's highly influential prime minister in 2024, had promised to make same-sex relations a crime, upping the offence from its previous classification as misdemeanour. UN human rights chief Volker Türk described Senegal's new law as 'deeply worrying', accusing the anti-LGBTQ legislation of flying 'in the face of sacrosanct human rights.' Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko (pictured) today condemned Western 'tyranny' in wanting to 'impose' homosexuality LGBTQ issues have stirred controversy in Muslim-majority Senegal in recent years (File image of Dakar, Senegal) The new law was brought to the country's parliament following a series of arrests over alleged same-sex relationships. The February arrests saw 12 men, including two public figures and a journalist, get detained and charged with 'acts against nature.' Human Rights Watch recently noted a rise in 'hostility toward LGBT people', adding that MPs in Senegal had twice previously tried unsuccessfully to raise jail terms and penalties against same-sex relationships.  The law was passed by an overwhelming majority, with 135 MPs voting in favour of it, none against and just three abstaining.  Senegal isn't the only African nation to have introduced anti-LGBTQ legislation in recent years.  Last September, Burkina Faso's parliament approved a bill banning homosexual acts, following its neighbour Mali in 2024.  And in 2023, Uganda brought in some of the harshest anti-homosexual laws in the world, which now means that people caught engaging in same-sex relationship can be sentenced to death.  Now Ghana is planning to re-introduce an anti-homosexuality bill that activists warn will threaten basic human rights, safety and freedom.   The comments below have not been moderated. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.