On September 1, 2025, Burkina Faso’s transitional legislative assembly passed a sweeping amendment to its Family and Persons Code, criminalizing consensual same-sex conduct. The law imposes two- to five-year prison sentences and financial penalties on individuals found engaging in homosexual activities. Immediate implementation ensued following unanimous approval.
The legislation doesn’t only punish private same-sex relations—it also penalizes the promotion of homosexuality, though the exact definition of such promotion remains vague. Justice Minister Edasso Rodrigue Bayala characterized homosexuality as “bizarre behavior,” presenting the law as a defense of traditional values and the institution of marriage.
Foreign nationals convicted under the new provisions face deportation in addition to criminal charges. Officials defended the law as upholding “Burkinabé cultural values,” a stance that aligns with recent actions by the military-led regime turning away from Western norms amid ongoing governance reforms.
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