Burkina Faso Criminalises Homosexuality, Approves Jail Terms, Fines
Burkina Faso has passed a law criminalising homosexual acts, introducing prison sentences of up to five years and monetary fines, in what rights groups have described as a deepening crackdown on LGBT freedoms across West Africa.
The legislation, approved on Monday by the country’s transitional parliament, stipulates penalties ranging from two to five years imprisonment, alongside fines. Foreign nationals found guilty of the offence will also face deportation, according to Justice Minister Edasso Rodrigue Bayala, who announced the development on state media.
“The law provides for a prison sentence of between two and five years as well as fines,” Bayala said, stressing that the legislation sought to “protect the country’s values and social fabric”.
The bill, which builds on a draft family code adopted by the cabinet last year, now awaits the signature of the country’s military leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, who seized power in 2022 after toppling Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Damiba. His assent will mark the final step before the law takes effect.
Until now, Burkina Faso had been among a handful of African states where same-sex relationships were not outlawed. Unlike many former British colonies, the country did not inherit anti-homosexuality laws when it gained independence from France in 1960.
The move mirrors legislative trends across the region. Neighbouring Mali, also under military rule, banned homosexuality last year, while Nigeria enforces some of the strictest measures on the continent.
Ghana’s parliament passed an anti-homosexuality bill, though it was never signed into law. Uganda has gone further, approving punishments including life sentences for consensual same-sex relations and even the death penalty in cases defined as “aggravated homosexuality”.
International organisations have reacted strongly to such developments. The World Bank last year suspended loans to Uganda in protest at its anti-LGBT laws, though the restriction was later lifted.
Sodiq Lawal is a passionate and dedicated journalist with a knack for uncovering captivating stories in the bustling metropolis of Osun State and Nigeria at large. He has a versatile reporting style, covering a wide range of topics, from politics , campus, and social issues to arts and culture, seeking impact in all facets of the society.
