Burkina Faso’s transitional assembly has passed a controversial law criminalising homosexuality, marking the first time such legislation has been introduced in the country

The move, backed unanimously on Monday by the 71 unelected members of the transitional legislative assembly, comes nearly three years after the military junta seized power

Under the new law, individuals convicted of same-sex relations face prison sentences of between two and five years, as well as fines

Justice Minister Edasso Rodrigue Bayala announced on national television that foreign nationals found guilty would be expelled from the country

Until now, Burkina Faso had no specific laws targeting homosexuals, although LGBT+ communities have long been forced to live discreetly

The measure is part of a broader reform of the "Code of Persons and Families", which also tightens the rules for acquiring Burkinabè nationality through marriage and grants legal recognition to religious and customary unions

The legislation is expected to be signed into law by junta leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré, who took power in a coup in September 2022

Traoré has pursued a fiercely sovereigntist line, often rejecting what he calls Western “values” and drawing closer to allies such as Russia and Iran

Authorities say the new code will be rolled out through a public awareness campaign

In August 2023, Burkina Faso’s media regulator banned television stations from broadcasting content deemed to promote homosexuality