Faith Nyasuguta
The military junta that seized power in Burkina Faso less than two years ago has announced a new law criminalizing homosexuality, reversing the country’s previous policies. Justice Minister Edasso Rodrigue Bayala confirmed the decision, stating, “Henceforth, homosexuality and associated practices will be punished by the law,” as reported by the AFP news agency.
This move aligns Burkina Faso with the growing number of African nations banning same-sex relations, leaving only 21 out of 54 African countries that do not explicitly prohibit such relationships. Uganda introduced the continent’s most severe laws against homosexuality in May.
This announcement coincides with a personal revelation by Brenda Biya, the daughter of Cameroon’s President Paul Biya, who came out as a lesbian on Instagram. She shared a photo of herself kissing her girlfriend, expressing her desire to offer hope and love to others in similar situations. Brenda Biya highlighted the suffering experienced by many due to their sexual orientation and hoped her openness would provide comfort.
Her father, who has been Cameroon’s president since 1982, has maintained the country’s anti-LGBTQ laws, which were established before his tenure. Brenda revealed that her parents were unaware of her sexuality and had asked her to delete the post, which she made without their knowledge. Notably, Brenda does not reside in Cameroon.
General Michael Langley, Commander of the U.S. Military’s Africa Command, expressed concerns about the rapid decline of democratic values in West Africa, a region facing significant security and misinformation challenges.
He emphasized the strong link between disinformation and instability, stating, “Getting the truth out there to counter disinformation is essential… Disinformation campaigns have directly driven deadly violence, promoted and validated military coups, and also cowed civil society members into silence.”
The volatility Langley referred to has been evident across what is now known as Africa’s coup belt. The region has witnessed a series of military coups, starting with Mali in August 2021, followed by Burkina Faso in September 2022, and Niger in July 2023.
These countries share commonalities, including military-led governments, a lack of elections since the coups, and a shared French colonial history. Rising anti-Western sentiment is prevalent among their leadership and populations.
In response to their common challenges, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger formed the Alliance of Sahel States, asserting their independence from former colonial ruler France. The alliance was formalized through the Liptako-Gourma Charter, which established a new defense pact among the three nations.
This partnership aims to form alliances with other countries that have not yet “exploited” their resources, hinting at potential collaborations with nations like Russia and Iran, where anti-Western sentiment is also prevalent.
Russia has sought to extend its influence in Africa by offering security forces in exchange for access to natural resources. U.S. Ambassador to Ghana Virginia Palmer highlighted the differences between Russian and U.S. partnerships, emphasizing that U.S. partnerships focus on development and security, whereas Russian partnerships are transactional.
The alliance members have made it clear that they view Western interests differently. Mali’s post-coup leader Colonel Assimi Goita, now leading the Sahel coalition, stated, “Westerners consider that we belong to them, and our wealth belongs to them. This era is gone forever, our resources will remain for us.”
At their first summit, the partners ruled out rejoining the nearly 50-year-old ECOWAS bloc, accusing it of failing to curb the violence spreading across West Africa.
As the leaders met, the U.S. announced the withdrawal of its military personnel and equipment from one of its two bases in Niger. By the end of August, the remaining troops and equipment will be pulled out, completing the U.S. withdrawal by September.
Despite the current situation, a U.S. defense official emphasized that the U.S. remains committed to the region due to its strategic importance.
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