In recent developments, both Mali and Burkina Faso have passed new laws criminalizing homosexuality, marking a significant shift in LGBTQ rights in the region. Mali’s transitional government, led by a military junta, approved a draft penal code prohibiting same-sex acts, which must still be signed into law. Similarly, Burkina Faso’s ruling authorities included a ban on same-sex relationships in their new family code, pending further legislative review.
These legislative changes reflect a broader trend across several African countries, where conservative values and anti-LGBTQ sentiments are on the rise. Leaders in both nations have justified the laws as a defense of cultural and religious norms, aligning with similar restrictions in over 30 African countries.
