Burkina Faso criminalizes same-sex relationships, intensifying crackdown on rights

Burkina Faso has criminalized same-sex relationships with prison terms, fines, and expulsions, reinforcing the junta’s authoritarian rule and sparking international criticism.

Burkina Faso has passed a new law that makes same-sex relationships illegal, introducing prison terms of two to five years and financial penalties for those found in violation. Foreign nationals caught in same-sex relationships will face expulsion from the country, a sharp escalation compared to the previous legal framework.

The legislation was approved unanimously by all 71 unelected members of the Transitional Legislative Assembly (ALT), the body that assumed parliamentary powers after the 2022 coup. This move further consolidates the authoritarian grip of the military junta led by President Ibrahim Traoré, who has ruled since toppling the previous government that year.

Tightening media restrictions

The new law follows a broader pattern of repression. In 2023, the Superior Council of Communication, the state media regulator, banned television channels accused of “promoting homosexuality.” That decision severely limited public access to content deemed inconsistent with the junta’s directives.

These developments reveal a deliberate attempt to control not only political opposition but also cultural and social narratives, narrowing the space for free expression in almost every sphere.

A wider regression of rights in africa

Globally, there is a clear trend toward decriminalizing homosexuality. Yet across much of Africa, the trajectory is alarmingly reversed. Advocacy groups such as the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Intersex Association have repeatedly warned of new laws across the continent that impose punitive restrictions, openly defying international human rights standards.

Burkina Faso’s latest measure thus represents not just an internal tightening of power but also an active step backward from global progress. By introducing jail sentences, financial penalties, and deportation for foreigners, the law entrenches a legal and social climate of persecution against LGBTI+ people.

Global and local criticism

The approval of this law has drawn sharp criticism from both domestic and international human rights organizations. Critics stress that such measures intensify discrimination, deepen marginalization, and spread fear among LGBTI+ individuals.

As one activist put it, “Every person should have the right to love who they want without fear of legal or social persecution.”

The repression of homosexuality, rights groups argue, not only excludes but also fuels stigma and violence—a reality that feels profoundly at odds with the modern world.

Fonte: ILGA World