LGBTQ rights revoked by African countries: what will be the future of the Africans concerned?

Picture this, it is the year 1970, and in Four United States cities: New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco, the first Pride marches occur. The goal? In commemoration of the Stonewall riots, a 1969 demonstration against the police persecution of sexual minorities. One of its founding members, Fred Sargeant, proclaims that the first march was more of a protest than a celebration, alluding to the liberation of “people of the LGBT communities,” whilst internally, transgender women and people of colour were largely excluded or silenced.

Today, the once-restricted protest has turned into an all-inclusive, widespread parade that is celebrated between June and August across the globe. South Africa remains one of the few African countries to publicly recognize the event, having begun in 1990; however, celebrating theirs in October instead. 56 years apart, and one would assume that LGBTQ+ rights are moving forward also on the continent, but do not be fooled. Some might say that, in actuality, the inequality and injustice against them have only worsened, with violence and stricter laws actively threatening the safety and livelihoods of its African members daily.

In recent years alone, over 60 countries still criminalize consensual same-sex relations, with more than half of them being African nations. Some have gone as far as making the act punishable by the death penalty like in Nigeria (Northern states under Sharia Law). What could be seen as a trend popularized by the Trump regime, since the US has revoked several of their LGBTQ+ rights, is slowly spreading into the main concern of the rest of the world, cowardly following suit. That being said, it shouldn’t come as a surprise at all when several African countries are currently under US sanctions and are trying to fall back in favour with their masters. Harsher anti-LGBTQ+ laws are often enough, therefore, just a mere scapegoat to strengthen their international alliance for financial gain with norms strategically imposed by the West.

So what has changed? Deeds Magazine made up a list of all the laws that have been put in place and overturned within the African context since last year. This includes some of the violent acts that have left LGBTQ+ communities as victims at the hands of African governments that pride themselves on taking away basic human rights over the safety and protection of their children, for example, through the reinforcement of a ban on trafficking and child marriage.

Burkina Faso

Perhaps the most disappointing of them all, on September 1 2025, Burkina Faso passed a law that makes consensual same-sex relations a criminal offence. If caught, one could face up to five years in prison as well as be fined. It is important to note that, unlike neighbouring countries, Burkina Faso did not inherit such a colonial penal code, that being why homosexuality was never criminalized by law, until now.

Ghana

On February 1 2026, Ghana reintroduced an anti-LGBTQ bill first passed in 2024. Initially, the previous version of the bill showed so little significance that it ended up expiring. Now under a new presidential administration, the bill was brought back with much more severe consequences. Not only does it attack individuals, but it also targets organizations and relations such as parents, doctors and journalists who advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. This comes right before Ghana was set to host a conference on Family and Sovereignty, an establishment, of course, backed by US-based far-right advocacy groups.

Senegal

On March 30 2026, Senegal modified a bill related to the 1965 penal code, a norm first introduced by its colonisers of France, which survived after receiving independence in 1960. The bill in question criminalized “unnatural acts,” making it now punishable by 10 years and increasing the fine if caught. This comes right after 12 men, including a musician and a TV host, were arrested in February under that law. Their charges are “acts against nature” and also include the alleged intentional transmission of HIV.

Kenya

In February 2026, The Kenyan National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (NGLHRC) appealed the 2019 decision, which upholds the country’s criminalisations against LGBTQ+ rights. Like many other African countries, Kenya’s Penal Code was imposed by its previous colonizers of the United Kingdom. The law retains “the carnage order against the order of nature.” This is a country where reports from the 19th century showcase a string of gender fluidity and same sex relationships being the norm amongst Swahili-speaking people. That, of course, took a sudden turn after Kenya was colonized by the British Empire in 1895.

Niger

In June 2026, the Niger passed a new law that criminalizes LGBTQ+ rights. The new law punishes “commits or attempts to commit an immodest or unnatural act or practices lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans-gender, Queer, intersex, Asexual (LGBTQIA+) acts.” This includes organizations and witnesses who legitimize the act by marriage. Much like their AES friend, homosexuality was never made illegal until now.

What Now?

While there are African countries that have fallen back into their masters’ grip, following through on norms imposed by their past colonizers, it is important to state that there are organizations actively challenging “laws” against human rights as we speak. Anti-LGBTQ laws are not ideals that were created out of thin air; they come from a long tradition of Roman Catholic oppression, trying to strip people of their human rights, and demonize anything not in proximity to cis-male whiteness. Although in the past it was utilized to strengthen imperialism in the Global South, it is now merely a tool for divide and conquer, and distracting the masses with real crimes against humanity, including genocides, xenophobia, human trafficking, child marriage, and so many more catastrophes that the continent falls under.
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