Burkina Faso Criminalizes Homosexual Acts: Up to Five Years in Prison as Parliament Bows to Military Pressure

Ouagadougou, Sept. 3, 2025 – In a sweeping reversal of its once moderate stance on LGBTQ+ rights, Burkina Faso’s transitional parliament has unanimously voted to outlaw homosexual acts, ushering in one of the harshest anti-gay laws in the region.

The newly passed legislation amends the Persons and Family Code, prescribing two to five years imprisonment and fines ranging from €3,000 to €15,000 for offenders. Foreign nationals found guilty will face deportation in addition to prison terms.

Justice Minister Edasso Rodrigue Bayala, who defended the bill, described same-sex relations as “bizarre behavior” and framed the move as a safeguard for what he called “traditional marriage and family values.” The law took effect immediately following Tuesday’s vote.

From Protection to Persecution

Until now, Burkina Faso had been one of the few West African nations where homosexuality was not criminalized. With this vote, the country aligns itself with regional neighbors such as Mali, which enacted similar laws under military rule in 2024.

Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, condemned the development as a dangerous regression. “This law institutionalizes discrimination, stigmatization, and violence against LGBTQ+ people,” Amnesty said in a statement urging its repeal.

A Regional Trend

The law is the latest in a growing wave of anti-LGBTQ+ crackdowns across Africa, where more than half of the continent’s 54 nations now criminalize same-sex relations. Activists warn that the ruling risks deepening persecution, forcing LGBTQ+ citizens underground, and violating Burkina Faso’s commitments under international human rights treaties.

Political Calculus

The legislation was first floated in July 2024 by the junta led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré. Analysts see its passage as both a consolidation of military control and a strategy to rally conservative support amid ongoing political and security instability.

For many observers, however, the law signals a disturbing step backward in a country already grappling with conflict, displacement, and democratic uncertainty.