Burkina Faso Parliament Passes Law Criminalizing LGBTQ Practices
Burkina Faso’s transitional parliament has passed a controversial law outlawing conduct deemed to promote LGBTQ practices, introducing fines, prison terms, and deportation for offenders, Justice Minister Edasso Rodrigue Bayala announced on state television.
The legislation, part of amendments to the Persons and Family Code, was unanimously adopted on Monday by the 71-member unelected parliament and now awaits the signature of military junta leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré.
Under the new law, individuals convicted of engaging in homosexual practices face prison sentences ranging from two to five years, alongside financial penalties. Repeat offenders who are not Burkinabe nationals risk deportation.
“This law provides for a prison sentence ranging from two to five years and a fine. A person who engages in homosexual practices will appear before a judge and, in the event of a repeat offence, be deported if you are not a Burkinabe national.,” Justice Minister Bayala explained.
The move makes Burkina Faso the latest African country to criminalize LGBTQ activity, following similar legislation in Uganda and Ghana. While the government frames the bill as part of efforts to modernize family law and clarify nationality and statelessness rules, rights advocates are expected to raise strong concerns over its impact on human rights.
Burkina Faso has been under military rule since a 2022 coup and faces escalating Islamist militant violence. Analysts say the junta has increasingly sought to tighten social and political controls, including curbing dissent.
Across Africa, anti-gay laws remain widespread in states such as Senegal, Malawi, and Uganda, though other nations including South Africa, Botswana, and Angola have taken steps toward decriminalization or enacted legal protections for LGBTQ citizens.
