Burkina Faso’s transitional parliament has passed legislation outlawing conduct deemed to promote LGBTQ practices, introducing fines, prison sentences and sanctions for persons convicted. The move comes less than a year after neighbouring Mali adopted a law criminalising homosexuality.

Those that transgress the law will face up to five years in prison, with the minimum foreseen penalty being two years behind bars along with financial penalties.

Repeat offenders without citizenship will be expelled from the country.

The new legislation comes into effect immediately, with individuals in same-sex relationships risking prison sentences as well as fines, Justice Minister Edasso Rodrigue Bayala said on state television.

He described homosexuality as “bizarre behavior.” Officials touted the new law as a recognition of “marriage and family values.”

The Persons and Family Code law also tightens regulations on nationality and stateless people.

The West African country is home to around 23 million people and has been governed by a military junta since 2022.

Mali who is an ally of Burkina Faso and is in a transitionary period adopted a law criminalizing same-sex relationships in November.

Ghana and Uganda have also toughened their anti-LGBTQ+ laws.

Homosexual relationships are outlawed in around one-third of the world’s nations.