LGBT+ Rights in Africa: A Worrying Decline
Only 22 African Countries Without Criminalization of Same-Sex Relations
LGBT+ rights in Africa are experiencing a significant decline. Out of the 54 countries on the continent, only 22 do not criminalize same-sex relationships, a number that could further decrease in the coming months.
Ghana: Supreme Court Decision Awaited
On July 17, Ghana’s Supreme Court postponed its decision regarding a law passed by parliament aimed at restricting LGBT+ rights. This technical delay offers a brief respite for homosexual individuals in a context where this issue has been debated for months. The law proposes prison sentences ranging from two months to three years for those found guilty of homosexuality, and five to ten years for those promoting homosexuality. The issue is also likely to influence discussions ahead of the presidential election in December.
Read also : Ghana’s Legal Battle Over LGBTQ Rights Could Impact $20 Billion Debt Restructuring
Uganda and Burkina Faso: Repressive Laws
In late May, Uganda passed one of the world’s harshest anti-LGBT+ laws, including the death penalty for repeat offenders. In Burkina Faso, despite the ongoing war against terrorism, the ruling junta has adopted a bill amending the family code to criminalize homosexuality. On July 10, the Burkinabé Minister of Justice declared that homosexuality is now banned and punishable in the country.
Diverse and Complex Motivations
The prohibitions on homosexuality in Africa are justified by various arguments. Many Africans consider homosexuality “unnatural.” This viewpoint is often advanced in countries like Senegal, Burkina Faso, and Ghana. Paradoxically, these countries rely on colonial laws introduced by Westerners before 1960 to justify these bans.
Influence of International Relations
The rejection of homosexuality in Africa is also used to mark opposition to the West, often expressed through statements like “We don’t want same-sex marriage here.” In the Sahel, the replacement of French influence with that of Russia exacerbates intolerance, with the criminalization of homosexuality seen as a way to please Vladimir Putin, the new Russian ally.
This situation highlights the ongoing challenges faced by LGBT+ individuals in Africa, where fundamental human rights are often subordinated to political and cultural considerations.
- WORLD NEWS LGBTQ
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