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Burkina Faso has officially enacted a new law that criminalizes homosexuality, with offenders now facing prison terms ranging from two to five years, according to the state broadcaster on Monday. The legislation, an amendment to the family code, was unanimously approved by parliament and took immediate effect, over a year after being endorsed by the military government led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré.
Justice Minister Edasso Rodrigue Bayala, in a televised statement, said individuals found engaging in same-sex relationships would face legal prosecution, potential imprisonment, and fines. He characterized homosexual acts as “unacceptable behavior,” asserting that the new law reflects the country’s traditional values regarding marriage and family.
“You will go before the judge,” Bayala declared, emphasizing strict enforcement of the legislation.
Burkina Faso now joins more than half of Africa’s 54 countries that criminalize homosexuality, with penalties in some nations extending to life imprisonment or even the death penalty. Neighboring Mali, a close ally also governed by a military junta, passed similar legislation in November 2024.
Elsewhere, countries such as Uganda and Ghana have intensified anti-LGBTQ+ measures in recent years. In Uganda, certain same-sex acts classified as “aggravated homosexuality” are punishable by death, while general same-sex relations can result in life sentences.
Officials in Burkina Faso have framed the law as a step toward safeguarding “marriage and family values,” while critics argue that it represents a deepening erosion of human rights under military rule. Since the September 2022 coup, the second that year, the Traoré-led junta has faced widespread criticism for suppressing dissent through arbitrary arrests and compulsory conscription of its opponents.
Human rights organizations have expressed concern that this legislation will exacerbate discrimination and violence against LGBTQ+ individuals while diverting attention from the country’s ongoing security challenges.
The military leadership, which came to power pledging stability amid worsening insurgency in the Sahel region, has increasingly promoted a message of African sovereignty and resistance to Western influence. Analysts suggest that this legislation aligns with a broader regional trend of using conservative social policies to bolster domestic support.