Burkina Faso Parliament Criminalises Same-Sex Relations in Unanimous Vote

Burkina Faso’s transitional parliament has voted unanimously to criminalize same sex relations, introducing jail terms of up to five years. Justice Minister Edasso Rodrigue Bayala confirmed on state-run media that offenders could face between two and five years in prison, alongside fines, adding that foreign nationals convicted under the new law will also be deported. The measure was adopted on Monday, 1, September 2025 as part of a broader reform of the country’s Persons and Family Code, marking a significant shift in the nation’s legal landscape, where same-sex relations had previously been permitted.

The legislation now awaits the signature of the country’s military leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, who has ruled since seizing power in 2022. Traoré, a 36-year-old army captain, ousted Lt Col Paul-Henri Damiba in a coup, citing the state’s inability to contain Islamist insurgencies.

Before now,  Burkina Faso was one of 22 African countries where homosexuality was not outlawed. Unlike many of Britain’s former colonies, it did not inherit anti-homosexuality provisions when it gained independence from France in 1960. The country, however, is deeply religious and socially conservative, with  fewer than 10% of its  population identifying   as non-religious. The passage of this  law now places Burkina Faso within a growing regional trend of tightening restrictions against same-sex relations. Last year, neighbouring Mali also under a military junta passed legislation outlawing same-sex relations. Ghana’s parliament approved an anti-homosexuality bill in 2024, though  not signed into law by the then-president. Nigeria has also enforced a strict ban since 2014, while Uganda’s 2023 legislation introduced some of the harshest measures in the world, including life sentences for same-sex acts and the death penalty for what it terms “aggravated homosexuality.”

Human rights groups have condemned Burkina Faso’s decision, warning of increased persecution and barriers to health services for LGBTQ people. International organisations have also weighed in on similar cases. The World Bank suspended new lending to Uganda in 2023 over its anti-LGBTQ legislation before lifting the ban two years later. Observers say Burkina Faso could face similar scrutiny from global financial and diplomatic partners. For now, the law underscores the growing influence of conservative and military led governments across West Africa in shaping not just security and governance, but also the region’s social policies.