Burkina Faso’s transitional parliament has passed a law making homosexual acts illegal, with offenders facing up to five years in prison. The new Persons and Family Code also introduces stricter rules on nationality and stateless people.

Since the military took power in 2022, the government has grown increasingly intolerant of dissent, especially as attacks by Islamist militants have worsened in the country.

The unelected 71-member transitional parliament approved the legislation unanimously on Monday, and it is awaiting the signature of military leader Ibrahim Traore.

Justice Minister Edasso Rodrigue Bayala said on state television that anyone engaging in homosexual practices could face two to five years in prison and fines, with foreign nationals at risk of deportation for repeat offenses.

He added that the law takes effect immediately and described homosexual acts as “bizarre behavior.”

Anti-gay laws exist in other African countries like Senegal, Uganda, and Malawi, while nations such as South Africa, Botswana, and Angola have decriminalized LGBTQ practices or enacted protections.

Although criticized in the West, these laws are often popular locally, with many officials and citizens seeing homosexuality as a foreign behavior rather than a sexual orientation.

Burkina Faso has been under military rule since the 2022 coup, and this new law highlights the government’s strict stance on social issues.