Burkina Faso’s transitional, unelected parliament has approved a law outlawing same-sex relationships, marking a sharp turn in the country’s legal stance on LGBTQ+ rights. The measure, passed unanimously on Monday, introduces prison terms of up to five years and monetary fines for those found guilty.

Justice Minister Edasso Rodrigue Bayala, speaking on state media, explained that “the law provides for a prison sentence of between two and five years, as well as financial penalties.” He further stated that foreigners convicted under the legislation will be expelled from the country. The bill, now awaiting the signature of the nation’s military leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, underscores a broader wave of anti-LGBT legislation spreading across parts of Africa. Traoré came to power in 2022 after toppling another military leader, Lt. Col. Paul-Henri Damiba.

Until now, Burkina Faso was one of only 22 African nations that permitted same-sex relations, having avoided the colonial-era anti-homosexuality statutes that remain entrenched in many former British territories. The new law reflects the country’s socially conservative and deeply religious makeup, with fewer than 10% of its citizens identifying as unaffiliated with any faith. The legislation aligns Burkina Faso more closely with neighboring Mali, also ruled by a military junta, which criminalised homosexuality in 2023. The shift mirrors a wider crackdown on LGBTQ+ communities across the continent.

In recent years, governments in Uganda, Nigeria, and Ghana have introduced or reinforced bans on same-sex relationships. Uganda in particular has drawn international condemnation for adopting one of the harshest anti-LGBT frameworks, including the death penalty for so-called “aggravated homosexuality” and life imprisonment for consensual same-sex acts. International institutions have at times pushed back against such laws. The World Bank, for instance, suspended new loans to Uganda following the enactment of its legislation, though that restriction was later lifted.

Burkina Faso, long dismissed by global powers as a marginal outpost of famine and dictatorship, has become a focal point of resistance and debate. President Ibrahim Traoré embodies both the country’s turbulent history of uprisings and the wider crisis of imperialism shaping Africa today. From mass revolts that toppled Blaise Compaoré to solidarity protests after coup attempts, the Burkinabè people have repeatedly shown a tradition of resistance. Traoré’s rise reflects both generational anger at failed states and a growing rejection of imperial dominance, placing Burkina Faso and the Sahel at the center of global struggles over sovereignty and liberation.