TL;DR
- Burkina Faso’s transitional parliament passed a law criminalizing “homosexual practices.”
- Convictions carry two to five years in prison and fines.
- Foreign nationals face deportation for repeat offenses.
- Law framed as family reform but seen as anti-LGBTQ crackdown.
- Part of a wider trend of anti-gay legislation across Africa.
Burkina Faso Bans LGBTQ Practices, Imposes Jail and Fines
Burkina Faso’s ruling junta just stamped out another slice of freedom—this time targeting the LGBTQ community. The transitional parliament, an unelected body of 71 members handpicked by the military, unanimously passed a law outlawing so-called “homosexual practices.” Convictions can now mean up to five years behind bars, hefty fines, and deportation for non-citizens.
Justice Minister Edasso Rodrigue Bayala laid it out on state television: “The law provides for a prison sentence ranging from two to five years and a fine.” He went further, declaring that any foreigner caught twice could be tossed out of the country. In one brutal swoop, Burkina Faso joined a grim club of African nations doubling down on homophobia—standing shoulder to shoulder with places like Uganda and Senegal, where being queer is treated like a crime.
Military Power, Shrinking Freedoms
The law comes against the backdrop of a military government desperate to flex its control. Ever since Ibrahim Traore seized power in a 2022 coup, dissent of all stripes—political, civil, and now personal—has been squeezed out of public life. Islamist violence may be ravaging the nation, but the junta seems fixated on criminalizing love instead of solving bloodshed. The move reveals a regime willing to scapegoat marginalized groups to bolster its image of “strength.”
While the government spins the legislation as a modernization of family law and nationality rules, it’s clear that the real headline is repression. For the LGBTQ community, it’s a chilling reminder that their very existence is being legislated out of legality. And unlike other progressive African states like South Africa and Angola, which have dismantled anti-gay laws, Burkina Faso is digging itself deeper into the pit of intolerance.
What This Means for LGBTQ People
For queer Burkinabé, the stakes couldn’t be higher. This isn’t just about legal text—it’s about daily survival. Being outed could mean jail time, harassment, or exile. The law also threatens to shred families, as those accused could face deportation or be denied nationality protections. LGBTQ people are already living in fear; now, that fear is state policy.
The global LGBTQ movement should take this as both a warning and a call to action. Every new anti-LGBTQ law in Africa fuels a chain reaction across the continent. Burkina Faso’s decision sends a dangerous signal that authoritarian leaders can weaponize sexuality as a tool of control. And while the law may silence queer voices at home, it also strengthens international solidarity, with activists worldwide ready to raise theirs even louder.
Because love is not a crime—and no military junta, no matter how fragile its grip, can legislate away the human need for connection.