The government of Capt. Ibrahim Traoré is leading the reform of marriage laws.
No same-sex relationships in Burkina Faso
The military junta in Burkina Faso has declared that gay actions are prohibited, becoming the latest African nation to impose restrictions on same-sex relationships despite significant resistance from Western powers.
In the socially conservative West African state, homosexuality was not officially prohibited, but it was frowned upon.
The junta’s cabinet has now authorized legislation to make it a punishable violation, according to Justice Minister Edasso Rodrigue Bayala, but he did not provide any further specifics.
Burkina Faso’s military took over in 2022 and turned its focus to Russia after cutting off relations with the old colonial state, France.
Although homosexual activity was no longer illegal in Russia in 1993, the administration of President Vladimir Putin has been harshly targeting the LGBTQ population, outlawing what it refers to as “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations.
Marriage laws reforms
The move to make homosexual encounters illegal is a component of Burkina Faso’s plan to reform its marriage laws.
The new law only recognizes religious and traditional weddings; it is still pending approval by the parliament under military rule and Ibrahim Traoré, the chairman of the junta.
“From now on, homosexuality and related behaviors will face legal consequences,” the minister of justice was cited by the AFP news agency.
After toppling Lt Col Paul-Henri Damiba, another military leader, in September 2022, Capt Traoré assumed power because Damiba had failed to end the Islamist insurgency that had engulfed Burkina Faso since 2015.
Of the 54 African states, Burkina Faso was one of 22 where same-sex relationships were not illegal.
After gaining independence from France in 1960, it did not inherit anti-homosexuality laws, unlike many former British colonies.
About 26% of people in Burkina Faso are Christians, and 64% are Muslims. Ten percent of people are atheists or adhere to conventional religions.
More restrictive policies toward the LGBTQ community in Africa
In recent years, several African states have adopted more restrictive policies toward the LGBTQ community.
Despite intense opposition from regional human rights organizations and Western nations, Uganda is one of the countries that has lately passed laws to tighten restrictions on the community.
A harsh new anti-gay rule that permits the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality,” which includes having gay sex with someone under the age of 18 or in cases when someone is sick with a chronic illness like HIV, was affirmed by the country’s Constitutional Court in May.
Following the law’s passage last year, the US stopped granting Ugandan goods preferential access to its markets, and the World Bank stopped making new loans to President Yoweri Museveni’s administration.
Mr. Museveni defended the laws, claiming they upheld traditional family values and that Uganda would not bow to pressure from the West.
Following her revelation as a lesbian last week, the president of Cameroon’s daughter received conflicting responses.
Brenda Biya, a foreign resident, expressed her hope that her coming out will contribute to a reform in the nation’s statute outlawing same-sex relationships.
Cameroon’s 91-year-old father, Paul Biya, has ruled the country with an iron grip since 1982. A strict new law that prohibits anyone found guilty of identifying as LGBTQ+ in Ghana might result in a three-year prison sentence was passed by the parliament in February.
President Nana Akufo-Addo has stated that he will wait for the courts to decide whether or not it is constitutional, although he has not yet signed it into law.
He has received a warning from the finance ministry that Ghana would lose $3.8 billion (£3 billion) in World Bank assistance over the next five to six years if the measure becomes law.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) provided a bailout to Ghana last year during a serious economic crisis.
