By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Junta-led government in Burkina Faso has placed a ban on same-sex acts, threatening that it will be a punishable offence henceforth.
It joins the list of African countries to crack down on LGBTQ activities, despite strong opposition from Western powers.
“Henceforth homosexuality and associated practices will be punished by the law,” AFP quoted the Justice Minister Edasso Rodrigue Bayala as saying.
He said the junta’s cabinet has approved legislation to this effect but did not give details on what the punishment could be.
The junta government in the West African country has severed ties with western powers, including former colony, France.
It instead leans to Moscow which it has called dependable ally to tackle militancy in the country.
Heritage Times HT reports that homosexual acts were decriminalised in Russia in 1993, but President Vladimir Putin’s government has been cracking down on the LGBTQ community, including banning what it calls “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations”.
Burkina Faso’s decision to outlaw homosexual relations may not be unconnected with moves to overhaul its marriage laws.
The new legislation is expected to be passed by the military-controlled parliament and assented to by junta leader Ibrahim Traoré.
The government only accords recognition to religious and customary marriages.
Burkina Faso was among 22 out of 54 African states where same-sex relations were not criminalised.
The country is made up of 64% of Muslims while Christians constitute 26%. The remaining 10% of people follow traditional religions or have no faith.
Several African countries have enacted tough legislations against LGBTQ community in recent years, with Uganda adopting a law that has attracted condemnation from local rights groups and Western powers.
Capt Traoré took power in September 2022 after overthrowing another military ruler, Lt Col Paul-Henri Damiba, accusing him of failing to quell an Islamist insurgency that has gripped Burkina Faso since 2015.
