Burkina Faso’s interim leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, has signed a new law banning same-sex marriage and criminalizing homosexuality. The law was approved by the Transitional Legislative Assembly and is now in effect nationwide.
Justice Minister Edasso Rodrigue Bayala stated that “homosexuality and related practices are now prohibited and punishable by law.”
LGBTQ+ rights groups have condemned the move, warning it could fuel discrimination and violence. One local activist said, “We used to live in hiding — now they’re asking us to stop existing.”
The law marks a significant reversal for LGBTQ+ rights in Burkina Faso, where same-sex acts were previously legal, though not recognized as marriage.