The Muslim majority African state Burkina Faso has approved a revised family code that criminalises homosexuality.
The nation’s military leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré announced the measure saying the ruling council had approved a decree for a new Personal and Family Code that “enshrines the ban on homosexuality” in the country.
“From now on, homosexuality and related practices are prohibited and punishable by law,” added the Minister of Justice, Edasso Rodrigue Bayala.
However, specific penalties were not outlined and the text is yet to be approved by the deputies of the Transitional Legislative Assembly.
This decision makes Burkina Faso one of the 22 out of 54 African countries that do not allow same-sex relationships, with penalties such as death or long prison sentences in some regions.
Previously, homosexuality was frowned upon in the socially conservative West African state, but it was never outlawed.
The decision comes a few years after the military seized power and pivoted away from French influence towards Russia.
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Many African states have been taking a tougher stand against homosexaility in recent years.
in 2023 Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni signed an Anti-Homosexuality Bill into law which means that anyone convicted of homosexual acts will face life imprisonment and some will face the death penalty.
And in February Ghana’s parliament voted to pass a bill which will punish those who take part in LGBTQ sexual acts, as well as those who promote the rights of gay, lesbian or other non-conventional sexual or gender identities, with time in prison.
