Burkina Faso’s ruling military junta has passed a law criminalising homosexuality and making it punishable with up to five years in prison. Foreigners convicted under the new law will be deported.
The bill, directed at what it calls “perpetrators of homosexual practices,” was passed unanimously by the transitional parliament’s 71 unelected members. It’s part of broader reforms regarding family and citizenship legislation.
Homosexuality is banned in about 30 other African nations. Burkina Faso’s neighbour and close ally Mali, which is also ruled by a military junta, passed a similar law in November.
Since taking power in a 2022 coup, Burkina Faso’s military leaders have launched sweeping reforms, including postponing elections that were expected to restore civilian rule.
Source: africanews
