Burkina Faso’s transitional parliament has passed a law criminalising homosexual acts, aligning with a growing wave of anti-LGBT legislation across West Africa.
The new law, awaiting approval by military leader Capt Ibrahim Traoré, introduces prison terms of two to five years and fines.
Foreign nationals convicted under the law will face deportation.
Until now, Burkina Faso was among the few African states where same-sex relations were legal, as the country did not inherit colonial-era anti-LGBT statutes.
However, the legislation reflects the nation’s conservative social and religious values.
The move mirrors developments in neighbouring Mali, Nigeria, Ghana, and Uganda, where restrictions on LGBT rights have tightened in recent years.
International bodies, including the World Bank, have previously penalised countries like Uganda over such laws, though enforcement of these sanctions has been inconsistent.
