By Melanie Nathan, July 11, 2024,
Burkina Faso's military junta has announced a ban on homosexual acts, making it the latest African state to crack down on same-sex relations. Homosexuality is heavily stigmatized and considered taboo in the conservative West African country, but it has never been previously outlawed. This is in keeping with the current trend on the continent towards heightened anti-homosexuality legislation.
Burkina Faso’s military junta said it has adopted the draft of an amended family code that criminalizes homosexuality.
The West African nation has been among just 22 out of 54 countries on the continent that allow same-sex relations, which are punishable by death or lengthy prison terms in some states.
Burkina Faso has been under military rule since two successive coups in 2022 and is part of a confederation with juntas in neighboring Mali and Niger. All three interim governments have so far failed to hold elections and turned away from traditional Western allies.
Burkina Faso’s Junta said it had adopted the amended family code draft in a weekly council of ministers meeting overseen by interim military leader Ibrahim Traore.
In my country conditions reporting I had predicted a likelihood of this occurrence in Burkina Faso, given the general conditions, and trend in the region, and the attacks on same-sex relations by President Museveni from Uganda who, after signing the new Anti-Homosexuality Act of 2023 into law, (known as the "Kill the Gays Bill"), called on ALL African leaders to lead the world in the eradication of homosexuality.
Since then Ghana's Parliament has also passed the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, an extremely harsh legislation criminalizing the identity of LGBTI people and their allies, (and much more.) Kenya is also seeking to pass harsh new anti LGBT laws.
In a statement interim Justice Minister Edasso Rodrique Bayala said in Burkina Faso:
“From now on, homosexuality and related practices are prohibited and punishable by law,” For the law to come into force, it will need to pass a parliamentary vote and then be promulgated by Traore.
Africa's LGBT community is terrorized by these new laws with many fleeing their countries, reflecting a forced migration with few pathways to protection safety and asylum. There are few resources and few organizations and funding dedicated to this crisis in Africa.
By Melanie Nathan, Commissionermnathan@gmail.com
Country Conditions Expert Witness: Website
Burkina Fao, Ghana, Uganda, Kenya and other African Countries
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