In early March, Sénégal passed a law doubling penalties for same-sex relationships, increasing sentences from five to ten years in prison. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye ratified the legislation on March 31st.

Prime Minister Rejects Foreign Criticism

Addressing lawmakers, Ousmane Sonko dismissed international criticism, particularly from France, and ruled out any moratorium on enforcing the law. This stance came despite a mid-May appeal by over thirty African-origin personalities published in a major newspaper, warning of a “climate of fear, hatred, and violence” following the bill’s passage.

“Ending the ‘proliferation’ of homosexuality.”

Sonko instead urged the judiciary to enforce the law “fully and rigorously,” framing the move as necessary to curb the “spread” of homosexuality. While politically resonant in Sénégal, this rhetoric risks deepening societal divisions, encouraging denunciations, and fueling violence against already marginalized groups. Regardless of differing global perspectives, safeguarding human dignity and preventing hate-driven harm must remain universal priorities.