Burkina Faso has joined a growing list of West African countries criminalizing homosexuality after lawmakers approved a new law banning same-sex relationships.
The transitional parliament, which is unelected, passed the legislation on Monday, building on a draft family code introduced last year. Justice Minister Edasso Rodrigue Bayala announced on state television that offenders could face between two and five years in prison, in addition to fines. He also stated that foreigners found guilty would be deported.
The law now awaits the formal approval of military leader Capt. Ibrahim Traoré, who seized power in 2022. His signature will make it enforceable.
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Until now, Burkina Faso had been one of the few African countries without a legal ban on same-sex relationships. As a former French colony, it did not inherit colonial-era anti-gay laws, but its socially conservative and deeply religious society has long resisted acceptance of homosexuality.
The move mirrors recent developments across the region. Neighboring Mali outlawed homosexuality last year, while Nigeria enforces strict penalties, and Ghana passed a bill that has yet to be signed into law. Uganda remains the most extreme, with punishments including life imprisonment and even the death penalty under its anti-LGBT legislation.
International rights groups have condemned such measures, warning they endanger vulnerable communities. However, Burkina Faso’s new law underlines the rising influence of conservative values and military-backed governments in shaping policy across West Africa.
