Burkina Faso has joined the list of African countries to openly and lawfully prohibit same-sex acts, imposing prison sentences ranging from two to five years for individuals found guilty of engaging in homosexuality.
In this law, other penalties include fines and the deportation of foreign nationals convicted under its provisions, a move which was unanimously adopted by the country’s transitional parliament.
Last year in July, Captain Ibrahim Traore’s government announced a ban on homosexuality though it was uncertain when it would be passed into a law.
Justice Minister, Edasso Rodrigue Bayala while speaking the nation’s local broadcast on September 1st confirmed the passage of the law and emphasized its severity. “The law provides for a prison sentence of between two and five years as well as fines,” he said.
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According to the law, even foreign nationals would be expelled if found guilty under the law.
“If a person is a perpetrator of homosexual or similar practices, they will go before the judge,” Bayala said.
As of 2025, around 30 African countries have laws that criminalize homosexuality or same-sex relations in some form. These laws vary in strictness, with some countries imposing harsh penalties such as life imprisonment or even the death penalty, while others may impose lighter sentences like fines or shorter prison terms.
Uganda’s aggressive approach to banning homosexuality with its controversial Anti-Homosexuality Act, which was signed into law in 2023 has had a ripple effect across Africa, influencing other nations, particularly those with conservative or military-led governments.
While countries like Nigeria and Tanzania have long enforced anti-gay laws, Uganda’s actions have stimulated further legislative actions in several neighboring countries, including Kenya and now Burkina Faso.
