Burkina Faso’s transitional parliament has unanimously passed a controversial bill banning homosexual acts, marking a significant shift in the country’s legal stance on LGBTQ+ rights. The law, adopted on Monday, introduces penalties of two to five years in prison, alongside fines, for anyone found guilty of engaging in same-sex relations.
Justice Minister Edasso Rodrigue Bayala announced on state media that foreign nationals convicted under the law will also face deportation. The legislation now awaits final approval from military leader Capt. Ibrahim Traoré, who seized power in 2022 after ousting Lt. Col. Paul-Henri Damiba.
The Sahel nation, which had previously been among only 22 out of 54 African countries where same-sex relationships were not criminalized, now joins a growing list of African states enacting strict anti-LGBTQ+ measures. In some countries, including Uganda, homosexuality carries penalties ranging from life imprisonment to the death penalty.
Historically, Burkina Faso did not inherit colonial-era anti-homosexuality laws from France, unlike many former British colonies in Africa. However, the country remains socially conservative and deeply religious, with less than 10% of the population identifying as non-religious.
The new law aligns with a broader continental trend. Neighboring Mali, also ruled by a military junta, criminalized homosexuality last year. Ghana’s parliament passed a similar bill in 2024, although it was not signed into law. Nigeria and Uganda have also adopted some of the strictest measures, with Uganda introducing life sentences for consensual same-sex relations and even capital punishment for what it defines as “aggravated homosexuality.”
Internationally, these developments have sparked backlash. The World Bank, for example, suspended loans to Uganda in response to its anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, although the ban was later lifted. Critics warn that Burkina Faso’s new stance may draw similar condemnation from global institutions and rights groups.
If signed into law, Burkina Faso will solidify its place among African nations enforcing strict bans on homosexuality, intensifying the debate over human rights and cultural values on the continent.
