Burkina Faso Passes Bill to Outlaw Homosexual Acts

Burkina Faso’s transitional parliament has voted to criminalize homosexual acts, a decision that marks a sharp shift in the country’s laws.

The measure, which was passed unanimously on Monday, sets prison sentences of two to five years and includes fines for those convicted. Justice Minister Edasso Rodrigue Bayala, speaking on state television, explained that the law also applies to foreign nationals, who would face deportation if found guilty.

The bill now heads to Captain Ibrahim Traoré, the military leader who took power in 2022 after removing another junta chief, for his signature.

For decades, Burkina Faso stood apart from many African nations by allowing same-sex relations. After independence from France in 1960, the country did not inherit colonial-era restrictions on homosexuality, unlike many of Britain’s former colonies. But with this new legislation, the Sahel nation joins a growing list of African states tightening laws against LGBT rights.

Across the region, similar measures have been adopted. Mali, a close ally of Burkina Faso, criminalized homosexuality last year. Nigeria and Ghana have pursued anti-gay legislation, though Ghana’s bill stalled after the president declined to sign it. Uganda has gone further, introducing some of the continent’s harshest provisions — including life sentences and even the death penalty for certain offenses.

The wave of crackdowns has drawn widespread international criticism. The World Bank last year suspended loans to Uganda over its anti-LGBT policies, citing human rights concerns.

Burkina Faso, a country with deeply rooted religious and conservative values, has now shifted its position, aligning with that regional trend. If Captain Traoré signs the measure, it will officially become the first anti-homosexuality law in the country’s history.