The military junta led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré in Burkina Faso has sanctioned a revised family code that criminalizes homosexuality. This decision places Burkina Faso among the 22 African nations out of 54 that prohibit same-sex relationships, with some regions imposing severe penalties, including death or lengthy prison sentences.
The new Personal and Family Code (CPF) explicitly “enshrines the ban on homosexuality” within the country, according to a presidential statement. Minister of Justice Edasso Rodrigue Bayala underscored that “homosexuality and related practices are now prohibited and punishable by law.” However, the exact penalties remain unspecified, pending approval by the deputies of the Transitional Legislative Assembly.
This move aligns Burkina Faso with countries like Uganda, which enacted one of the most stringent anti-LGBTQ laws globally in May of last year.