Two individuals sit on a bench outdoors, wrapped in a rainbow pride flag, representing LGBTQ+ pride and community.
A growing wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation across Africa is raising alarm, as governments tighten restrictions and activists warn of deepening repression. In Senegal, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye recently doubled prison terms for same-sex relations to 10 years, while Uganda and Burkina Faso have enacted similarly harsh laws. Meanwhile, Ghana is reconsidering controversial legislation that could compel citizens to report LGBTQ+ individuals. Analysts say these measures are often driven by domestic politics, with leaders leveraging cultural narratives to secure populist electoral support. However, external influence is also significant, as US-based conservative groups reportedly spent about $5.2 million promoting anti-LGBTQ+ agendas on the continent. For many LGBTQ+ individuals, the consequences are deeply personal, with rising violence, evictions, and social exclusion shaping daily life and fueling fears about the future of human rights.
The Guardian