Burkina Faso’s transitional parliament has unanimously passed a law criminalizing LGBTQ practices, imposing prison terms, fines, and deportation for foreigners convicted under the law. The legislation, awaiting junta leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré’s signature, has sparked concerns among human rights advocates.
The law introduces penalties of two to five years in prison and financial sanctions for individuals engaging in same-sex relations. Repeat offenders, if not Burkinabe nationals, face deportation. This move aligns Burkina Faso with other African countries that have restricted LGBTQ rights, such as Senegal, Uganda, and Malawi.
Critics warn the law will deepen social divisions and attract international condemnation, while analysts see it as a reflection of the country’s cultural conservatism and the military-led authorities’ hard-line stance.
