By Moustapha Diakhaté
Homosexuality is legally punished and criminally repressed in Senegal as an offense against morals. It is legally defined as an “indecent or unnatural act with an individual of the same sex” and is punishable by one to five years in prison.
Homosexuality is punished in Senegal by Article 319 of the Penal Code, paragraph 3, stemming from Law 66-16 of February 12, 1966, which states: “Without prejudice to more severe penalties provided for by the preceding paragraphs or by Articles 320 and 321 of the Penal Code, anyone who commits an indecent or unnatural act with an individual of the same sex shall be punished with imprisonment of one to five years and a fine of 100,000 to 1,500,000 francs. If the act is committed with a minor under 21 years old, the maximum penalty will always be imposed.”
Mr. Ousmane Sonko must retract his false statements and apologize to the students and the people of Senegal.
His statement contradicts his previous commitments to criminalize homosexuality once in power.
How can Mr. Sonko, the Prime Minister of Senegal, lie about the tolerance of homosexuality when it is prohibited by Senegalese law and recently a suspected homosexual’s body was exhumed and completely burned in Kaolack by a mob of young fanatics and barbarians?
Certainly, Ousmane Sonko was an incompetent Member oftheParliament. He was frequently absent and rarely visited the National Assembly library.
Can his lack of general and state culture justify ignoring that Senegal has criminalized homosexuality since 1966?
Contrary to his fabrications before French opposition figure Jean-Luc Mélenchon, Senegal represses homosexuality. The law provides for sanctions, and judges often issue criminal and monetary sentences.
In our country, homosexual relations are punishable by imprisonment.
The Senegalese penal code explicitly considers relationships between adults of the same sex as crimes.
Homosexuality is punished by law, and people who are homosexual or suspected of being so live in fear of being arrested, convicted, or lynched.
Under these conditions, speaking of tolerance of homosexuality is a big lie. But it must be recognized that Sonko has never been embarrassed to lie in public or on camera. It is even in his political DNA.
The worst part is that Sonko’s statement on the handling of homosexuality contradicts his previous commitments on the issue.
On March 12, 2022, he promised to toughen sanctions against homosexuality in a resounding tweet that read: “If I am elected President of Senegal, the law criminalizing homosexuality will be one of the first that I will have passed.” At the time, he cited religion and his concern for “preserving our humanity” to justify his anti-homosexuality stance.
On the issue of homosexuality in Senegal, Sonko lied and betrayed his promise to criminalize it.
On the subject of homosexuality, Ousmane Sonko showed great cowardice before Jean-Luc Mélenchon when he shamelessly claimed that the phenomenon is tolerated in Senegal. He betrayed his fanatical base and his supporters, many of whom come from extremist circles and religious associations, which had used manipulation on the subject as a weapon against the previous regime.
Sonko’s speech reflects his systematic use of double-speak to always say what pleases his interlocutor of the moment. This is contrary to Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who has shown more honesty, courage, and consistency. The latter has remained constant and consistent with his party’s line, La France Insoumise, which is the opposite of the repetitive renunciations of the leader of Pastef and the Senegalese government.
Finally, I want to condemn the opportunistic attitude of the Rector of Cheikh Anta Diop University.
Professor Ahmadou Aly Mbaye violated the Academic Council’s decision suspending all political activities on the university campus. This suspension has not yet been lifted. Therefore, the Rector should not have authorized this meeting, which has no official or scientific character, much less participated in it.
Additionally, Pastef is a private association. It can host Jean-Luc Mélenchon and organize a meeting between him and its members wherever it wants, except at UCAD, as long as the Academic Council’s decision remains in effect.
Long live Senegal!
Long live the Republic!
Dakar, May 17, 2024
Moustapha Diakhaté
