Burkina Faso’s military junta has announced a ban on homosexual acts, making it the latest African state to crack down on same-sex relations.
The decision comes despite strong opposition from Western powers and will criminalize what was previously tolerated in the socially conservative West African state.
According to Justice Minister Edasso Rodrigue Bayala, the junta’s cabinet has approved legislation making homosexuality punishable by law. However, details of the new law remain unclear. The move is part of an overhaul of Burkina Faso’s marriage laws, which will only recognize religious and customary marriages.
Burkina Faso’s decision follows a trend of African states cracking down on the LGBTQ community in recent years. Uganda has also adopted legislation aimed at further restricting the rights of the community, despite widespread condemnation from local rights groups and Western powers.
The development is seen as part of a broader shift in attitudes towards the LGBTQ community in Africa, with many states adopting increasingly conservative stances. Burkina Faso’s military seized power in 2022, and has since moved away from its previous ties with France, adopting a more pro-Russian stance.
The new law will punish “homosexual acts and associated practices”, according to Bayala. The move is likely to be met with widespread criticism from international human rights groups and Western governments, which have consistently called for greater protection and recognition of the rights of the LGBTQ community.
Burkina Faso was one of 22 African states where same-sex relations were not criminalized. The country has a population that is around 64% Muslim, with Christians making up around 26%, and the remaining 10% following traditional religions or having no faith.
