Burkina Faso’s military junta has taken a significant step towards criminalizing homosexuality by adopting the draft of an amended family code. Previously, Burkina Faso was one of the few African countries that permitted same-sex relations, standing among just 22 out of 54 nations on the continent. In stark contrast, many African countries impose severe penalties for homosexuality, including death or lengthy prison terms.
The junta, which has ruled Burkina Faso Ibrahim Traore since two successive coups in 2022, is part of a confederation with military governments in neighboring Mali and Niger. These interim governments have yet to hold elections and have distanced themselves from traditional Western allies. The announcement came late Wednesday, following a weekly council of ministers meeting overseen by interim military leader Ibrahim Traore. Interim Justice Minister Edasso Rodrique Bayala stated, “From now on, homosexuality and related practices are prohibited and punishable by law.”
For the draft law to be enacted, it must pass a parliamentary vote and be promulgated by Traore. This development aligns with a broader trend of increasing repression of LGBTQ rights across Africa. In the past 14 months, Uganda and Ghana have enacted some of the continent’s harshest anti-LGBTQ laws. Uganda’s legislation, signed in May last year, is considered one of the world’s most stringent anti-LGBTQ laws, while Ghana’s parliament unanimously passed a law in February that intensifies the repression of LGBTQ individuals.
The announcement in Burkina Faso has intensified concerns about the safety and rights of LGBTQ people in the region. The daughter of Cameroon’s president, Brenda Biya, recently came out as a lesbian and has since called for changes to the laws banning homosexuality in her country. Despite these calls for reform, the political climate in Burkina Faso and other West African nations suggests a hardening stance against LGBTQ rights.
Burkina Faso’s move towards criminalizing homosexuality marks a significant shift in the nation’s legal landscape and highlights the growing influence of military governments in the region. As the draft law awaits parliamentary approval, the future of LGBTQ rights in Burkina Faso hangs in the balance, reflecting a broader pattern of increasing legal and social challenges for LGBTQ communities across Africa.
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