Anti-LGBTQ+ laws are on the rise across west Africa, campaigners warn

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West African Nations Tighten Restrictions on LGBTQ+ Communities

A mounting wave of legislative measures targeting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals is sweeping through West Africa. This regional trend emerges alongside domestic political dynamics and international resistance to expanding LGBTQ+ protections. Multiple states have either enacted fresh prohibitions or intensified existing ones within recent months.

Recent Legislative Changes Across the Region

Senegal made headlines in March when lawmakers increased the maximum incarceration term for homosexual conduct from five to ten years. The legislation additionally made it illegal to publicly advocate for or promote homosexuality. Shortly before that, Niger outlawed intimate relationships between individuals of identical gender during February, marking the nation’s initial prohibition of same-sex affection.

Mali and Burkina Faso, both sharing borders with Niger, followed similar paths by banning same-sex partnerships within the past twenty-four months. Each of these three nations operates under military governance following recent coups. Meanwhile, Ghana strengthened its existing prohibition against homosexual acts by passing additional legislation in June that targets broader LGBTQ+ “activities.” This newest version of the proposal originated in 2021 and awaits presidential approval.

“What I see in all of them is a political opportunism,” noted Anthony Oluoch, representing Pan Africa ILGA, a continental organization dedicated to LGBT+ rights advocacy.

According to Oluoch, certain nations witnessed religious organizations and movements championing traditional family structures supporting these stricter regulations. In Burkina Faso specifically, where Muslims comprise the majority, authorities presented the legislation as strengthening national independence against Western influence.

“Underneath that all, there’s a lot of transnational reinforcement,” Oluoch explained further.

Community Impact and International Connections

An activist from Burkina Faso, requesting anonymity due to safety concerns, observed that LGBTQ+ individuals serve as convenient targets for those seeking to consolidate authority.

The consequences for local communities have proven severe even prior to official enforcement. According to a healthcare worker specializing in HIV services, thirteen transgender women faced detention without judicial proceedings between June and November of the previous year. These women alleged that military personnel subjected them to physical abuse while imprisoned.

Following the legislation’s passage, authorities have secured at least two separate rounds of convictions. The same HIV specialist reported that law enforcement officers are now using social media platforms to trap LGBTQ+ individuals, compelling them to publicly denounce fellow community members. This worker eventually left the country in May after being identified by someone who had previously been arrested.

Despite military leader Ibrahim Traoré’s frequent criticism of Western nations, Burkina Faso has attracted attention from conservative Christian organizations worldwide that oppose LGBTQ+ rights. The African Inter-Parliamentary Conference on Family Values and Sovereignty, widely believed to have shaped continental legislation, will convene next year in both Burkina Faso and Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland.

The inaugural three sessions took place yearly in Uganda, located in East Africa, starting in 2023. That same year, Uganda introduced capital punishment for certain homosexual behaviors. The international reproductive rights organization Ipas indicates that Family Watch International, an Arizona-based Christian advocacy organization opposing abortion and comprehensive sex education, provides financial backing for these annual meetings. Additionally, the Dutch-established Christian Council International lobby group participates regularly.

“Ghana has a lot of credentials that Uganda does not have … some clout that other countries in Africa do not have,” stated Ebenezer Peegah, executive director of Rightify Ghana, an NGO supporting LGBTQ+ populations.

During June’s conference hosted by Ghana’s parliament, delegates drafted the African Charter on Family Sovereignty and Values. This proposed treaty rejects abortion and comprehensive sex education, declares gender as exclusively male or female, and establishes that parental authority takes precedence over children’s rights. A preliminary version appeared on Family Watch International’s official website.

Amanda Odoi, a researcher at the University of Cape Coast, characterized Ghana’s parliamentary legislation as an effective political mechanism backed by influential religious institutions. She emphasized that foreign organizations played crucial roles in providing resources, funding, and platforms for anti-LGBTQ+ campaigns.

Odoi highlighted parallels between Ghana’s proposal and Uganda’s earlier law, noting particularly the bill’s extensive acronym “LGBTTQAP+” which incorporates terms like “questioning” rarely encountered in Ghanaian discourse. Peegah confirmed that selecting Ghana for this year’s conference represented intentional strategy given the nation’s continental influence, citing its democratic stability, transparent electoral processes, and comparatively free press environment.

Throughout West Africa, LGBTQ+ residents continue experiencing the repercussions of these increasingly stringent regulations. In Senegal, the updated legislation additionally impedes HIV prevention efforts, according to health professionals monitoring the situation.

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