Burkina Faso Criminalises Homosexuality, Introduces Jail Terms and Fines

Burkina Faso has passed a new law criminalising homosexuality, reversing its previous legal stance on same-sex relationships and joining a growing list of West African nations adopting anti-LGBT legislation.

The transitional parliament, an unelected body, approved the bill on Monday, following a draft family code introduced last year. Justice Minister Edasso Rodrigue Bayala said the law prescribes prison sentences of two to five years and fines for offenders. Foreign nationals convicted under the law will also face deportation.

The bill now awaits the signature of military leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré, who seized power in 2022. His approval would bring the law into effect.

Burkina Faso had previously stood out as one of the few African countries where same-sex relationships were legal, as it did not inherit colonial anti-homosexuality laws from France. However, the socially conservative and religious country has shifted toward restrictive policies in recent years.

The development mirrors measures in neighbouring Mali, which criminalised homosexuality last year, while countries like Nigeria and Uganda already enforce strict bans. Uganda’s law goes further, imposing life sentences and even the death penalty in cases of “aggravated homosexuality.”

International organisations, including the World Bank, have criticised such laws, warning of social and economic repercussions.