Burkina Faso’s New Law Criminalises Homosexuality With Up to Five Years in Prison
Burkina Faso has officially criminalised homosexuality under a new law passed Monday, sentencing offenders to up to five years in prison and imposing fines.
The legislation, approved unanimously by 71 unelected members of the transitional parliament, marks a sharp escalation in the country’s crackdown on civil liberties since the military seized power in 2022.
Justice Minister Edasso Rodrigue Bayala announced the law on national broadcaster RTB, stating, “If a person is a perpetrator of homosexual or similar practices, all the bizarre behaviour, they will go before the judge.”
He added that foreign nationals found guilty under the law would be deported.
The law is expected to take effect immediately.
According to Al Jazeera, the legislation is part of a broader reform of Burkina Faso’s family and citizenship code.
Officials say the law will be “popularised through an awareness campaign” aimed at reinforcing traditional values.
However, rights groups are expected to challenge the measure, citing concerns over civil liberties and the lack of legal recourse in nationality cases.
Since taking power, the military-led government under President Ibrahim Traoré has pledged to stabilise the country amid a worsening security crisis.
Despite these promises, human rights organisations have accused the regime of suppressing dissent through mass arrests and forced conscription of critics.
Burkina Faso now joins more than half of African nations that criminalise homosexuality, with penalties ranging from imprisonment to, in some cases, the death penalty.
Neighbouring Mali adopted similar laws in November 2024, while Ghana and Uganda have introduced harsher anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in recent years.
Uganda’s law includes provisions for life imprisonment and capital punishment under the charge of “aggravated homosexuality.”
