Burkina Faso’s military junta has announced a ban on homosexual acts, becoming the latest African state to crack down on same-sex relationships, despite strong opposition from Western powers.
Homosexuality was frowned upon in the socially conservative West African state, but was never banned.
Justice Minister Edasso Rodrigue Bayala said the junta’s cabinet has already approved legislation to make the crime punishable, but did not give further details.
The military seized power in Burkina Faso in 2022 and turned to Russia after drastically reducing ties with former colonial power France.
Homosexual acts were decriminalized in Russia in 1993, but President Vladimir Putin’s government has repressed the LGBTQ communityincluding a ban on what it calls “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations”.
Burkina Faso’s decision to ban homosexual relationships is part of a review of its marriage laws.
The new legislation, which still needs to be approved by the military-controlled parliament and signed by junta leader Ibrahim Traoré, only recognizes religious and customary marriages.
“From now on, homosexuality and associated practices will be punished by law,” said the Minister of Justice, quoted by the AFP news agency.
Captain Traoré took power in September 2022, after overthrowing another military ruler, Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Damiba, accusing him of failing to suppress an Islamic insurgency that has dominated Burkina Faso since 2015.
Burkina Faso was among 22 of 54 African states where same-sex relationships were not criminalized.
Unlike many former British colonies, it did not inherit anti-homosexuality laws after independence from France in 1960.
Muslims make up about 64% of Burkina Faso’s population and Christians 26%. The remaining 10% of people follow traditional religions or have no faith.
Many African states have taken a tougher stance against the LGBTQ community in recent years.
Uganda is among those that have recently adopted legislation to continue repressing the community, despite strong condemnation from local rights groups and Western powers.
In May, its Constitutional Court upheld a strict new anti-homosexuality law that allows the death penalty to be imposed for “aggravated homosexuality,” which includes having gay sex with someone under 18 or when someone is infected. with a lifelong illness. long-term illnesses such as HIV.
Activists said they would appeal the decision.
The World Bank has suspended new loans to President Yoweri Museveni’s government, while the US has stopped giving Ugandan products preferential access to its markets following the legislation’s adoption last year.
Museveni argued that the legislation preserves traditional family values and said Uganda would not allow the West to dictate it.
The daughter of the president of Cameroon provoked mixed reactions after declaring herself a lesbian last week.
Brenda Biya, who lives abroad, said she hopes her taking over would help change the law ban on same-sex relationships in the country.
Cameroon has been ruled with an iron fist by his 91-year-old father, Paul Biya, since 1982.
In Ghana, parliament approved a new bill in February that imposes a prison sentence of up to three years for anyone convicted of identifying as LGBTQ+.
However, President Nana Akufo-Addo did not sanction it, saying he will wait for the courts to rule on its constitutionality.
The Ministry of Finance has warned that if the bill becomes law, Ghana could lose $3.8 billion (£3 billion) in World Bank funding over the next five to six years.
Ghana is suffering a serious economic crisis and received a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) last year.
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