In a sweeping move that further restricts LGBTQ+ rights in West Africa, Mali's National Transitional Council has voted to criminalize homosexuality, with lawmakers approving the measure by a margin of 131-1, PinkNews reports.
The legislation, which awaits final approval from the country's military leadership who seized power in 2021, specifically targets sexual relationships between men, though specific penalties have not yet been disclosed.
Mali's shift toward criminalizing homosexuality comes amid broader changes in the country's governance. Colonel Assimi Goïta, who heads the ruling military junta, had previously moved to remove French as one of Mali's official languages in June 2023, signaling a departure from historical ties with France.
Minister of Justice and Human Rights Mamadou Kassogue had previously indicated the government's stance on the issue, "There are provisions in our laws that prohibit homosexuality in Mali. Anyone who indulges in this practice, or promotes or condones it, will be prosecuted."
Kassogue emphasized the cultural basis for the legislation, stating, "We will not accept our customs and values being violated by people from elsewhere."
The development in Mali follows similar trends across West Africa. In July, Ghana's supreme court dismissed a challenge to the country's Criminal Code of 1960, which categorizes same-sex acts as "unnatural carnal knowledge" and carries a potential three-year prison sentence. Ghana's existing law, dating back to British colonial times, has led to widespread discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals. The situation could worsen if the pending Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill becomes law.
