Burkina Faso’s military junta has approved a draft amendment to the family code that criminalizes homosexuality, marking a significant shift in the nation’s legal stance on same-sex relations.
Burkina Faso, one of only 22 African countries that currently permit same-sex relations, joins the growing number of nations on the continent enforcing severe penalties for LGBTQ activities, with some imposing death or lengthy prison sentences.
The country has been under military rule since two coups in 2022, aligning itself with the juntas in neighboring Mali and Niger. Despite international pressure, these interim governments have yet to organize elections and have distanced themselves from traditional Western allies.
On Wednesday evening, the junta announced the adoption of the amended family code draft during a weekly council of ministers meeting led by interim military leader Ibrahim Traore.
“From now on, homosexuality and related practices are prohibited and punishable by law,” interim Justice Minister Edasso Rodrique Bayala stated in a presidency announcement.
The proposed law still requires parliamentary approval and must be promulgated by Traore to take effect.
This development follows a trend of increasing restrictions on LGBTQ rights across Africa over the past 14 months. Last year, Uganda enacted one of the world’s harshest anti-LGBTQ laws, and in February, Ghana’s lawmakers unanimously passed legislation further repressing LGBTQ individuals.
