Ousmane Sonko addresses international criticism on Senegal's homosexuality laws
via SeneNews1 min read
Ousmane Sonko, president of the National Assembly, has responded to international criticism regarding Senegal's laws on homosexuality, rejecting claims of a "hunt" against individuals. He stated that Senegalese law on the matter has existed for over 30 years, predating recent modifications to penalties, and dates back to the era of President Léopold Sédar Senghor. Sonko also mentioned historical arrests, noting that some were motivated by health concerns related to HIV transmission. He emphasized Senegal's national sovereignty, asserting that the country does not need to justify its laws to Western nations or anyone else. Sonko, leader of Pastef, firmly rejected any possibility of repealing the law, stating, "We will strengthen it, but we will absolutely not go back on it."
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by SeneNews.
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Must ReadAbdoul Aziz Diop, former special advisor to President Macky Sall, was taken into police custody by the Special Cybersecurity Division DSC following his questioning. The political analyst is being prosecuted for alleged statements contrary to public morals. Diop appeared before investigators in the morning and reportedly admitted to making the statements in question, but expressed neither regret nor apologies. Following the hearing, the public prosecutor at the High Court of Dakar reportedly ordered his detention. The petroleum and environmental engineer is expected to be brought before the prosecutor on Friday for further proceedings. Abdoul Aziz Diop is at the center of a controversy after making statements targeting Ousmane Sonko, president of the Pastef party and also president of the National Assembly, as well as some of his activists. These remarks were considered particularly serious by several observers and led to the initiation of this legal procedure. The investigation is ongoing, and Diop benefits from the presumption of innocence until a final court decision.
Must ReadIn recent months, several West African countries have enacted new laws criminalizing homosexuality, a trend reflecting a broader crackdown on the LGBT+ community across the continent. Only about 20 of Africa's 54 countries do not criminalize homosexuality. Explanations for this rise in anti-homosexuality laws include electoral strategies, rejection of perceived Western values, and a conservative surge. Uganda led the way in 2023 with an anti-LGBT+ law, considered one of the world's most repressive, where "aggravated homosexuality" can carry the death penalty, though it has not been applied for years. In September 2025, Burkina Faso passed a law with penalties up to five years in prison for "homosexual practices." Neighboring Niger followed in February, discreetly enacting a new penal code that criminalizes homosexuality, with sentences up to 20 years for same-sex marriage. In March, Senegal doubled penalties for homosexual relations from five to ten years in prison. Since the beginning of the year, over a hundred people have been arrested in Senegal, and one man was sentenced to six years for "unnatural acts" under the new law. Last month, Ghana's Parliament approved sentences of up to three years for homosexual acts and three to five years for promoting or supporting LGBT+ activities. Even before these laws, the LGBT+ community generally faced taboos and discrimination in these countries, as well as in those where homosexuality is legal, with rare exceptions. Human rights de