Burkina Faso’s transitional parliament has approved a new law that makes consensual same-sex relations a crime for the first time in the country’s history.
People convicted under the measure face two to five years in prison and fines; the law took effect immediately after the vote in early September 2025, according to officials and state media reports.
Human Rights Watch says the Transitional Legislative Assembly passed the law on September 1, 2025, marking a major reversal for LGBT rights in Burkina Faso, which historically did not criminalise same-sex relations in its penal code.
Multiple international outlets report that the measure amends the country’s family code and was unanimously backed by the junta-appointed parliament.
Justice Minister Edasso Rodrigue Bayala framed the move as upholding “traditional” family values. Penalties include imprisonment, fines, and—in some cases—deportation of foreign nationals, according to regional summaries.
The change aligns Burkina Faso with more than half of African countries that criminalise homosexuality, part of a broader regional trend of tightening laws against LGBT people.
Rights groups warn the law violates rights to privacy and non-discrimination and say it comes amid a wider crackdown on dissent under the military government that seized power in 2022.
International coverage from AFP, Al Jazeera, RFI and other outlets confirms the 2–5 year sentence range and fines, noting this is the first time Burkina Faso has enacted criminal penalties for same-sex conduct.
