Ghana’s recent passage of the anti-LGBTQ+ bill has sparked global attention and concern.

The legislation, officially known as the “Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2024,” has elicited widespread condemnation both within and beyond Ghana’s borders.Across the African continent, a number of countries maintain laws criminalizing various aspects of LGBTQ activities.

These regulations encompass the criminalization of LGBT individuals, sexual activities between individuals of the same gender, and, in some instances, the gender expression of trans people.

This list outlines the legal frameworks and penalties imposed by different nations, reflecting the diverse and, restrictive attitudes towards LGBTQ communities in Africa.

Algeria

Illegalises LGBT persons and any form of sexual relations between males and females

Highest punishment: Three years imprisonment and a fine of 10,000 Dinars

Burundi

Illegalises LGBT persons and any form of sexual relations between males and females

Highest punishment: Two years imprisonment and a fine of 100,000 Burundian Francs

Cameroon

Illegalises LGBT persons and any form of sexual relations between males and females

Highest punishment: Five years imprisonment and a fine of 200,000 West African CFA Francs

Chad

Illegalises LGBT persons and any form of sexual relations between males and females

Highest punishment: Two years imprisonment and a fine of 500,000 West African CFA Francs

Comoros

Illegalises LGBT persons and any form of sexual relations between males and females

Highest punishment: Five years imprisonment and a fine of 1,000,000 Comorian Francs

Egypt

Illegalises LGBT persons and any form of sexual relations between males

Highest punishment: Three years imprisonment and a fine of 3,000 Lira

Eritrea

Illegalises LGBT persons and any form of sexual relations between males and females

Highest punishment: Three years imprisonment

Eswatini

Illegalises LGBT persons and any form of sexual relations between males

Highest punishment: Imprisonment

Ethiopia

Illegalises LGBT persons and any form of sexual relations between males and females

Highest punishment: One year imprisonment

Gambia

Outlaws same-sex relations, unnatural/indecent acts

Sentence: Fourteen years to life in prison

Ghana

Illegalises LGBT persons and activities, and any form of sexual relations between males

Highest punishment: Up to 3 years in prison

Guinea

Illegalises LGBT persons and any form of sexual relations between males and females

Highest punishment: Three years imprisonment and a fine of 1,000,000 Guinean Francs

Kenya

Illegalises LGBT persons and any form of sexual relations between males

Highest punishment: Fourteen years imprisonment

Liberia

Illegalises LGBT persons and any form of sexual relations between males and females

Highest punishment: One year imprisonment

Libya

Illegalises LGBT persons and any form of sexual relations between males and females

Highest punishment: Five years imprisonment

Malawi

Illegalises LGBT persons and any form of sexual relations between males and females, gender expression of trans people

Highest punishment: Fourteen years imprisonment with corporal punishment

Mauritania

Illegalises LGBT persons and any form of sexual relations between males and females

Imposes the death penalty

Highest punishment: Death by stoning

Morocco

Illegalises LGBT persons and any form of sexual relations between males and females

Highest punishment: Three years imprisonment and a fine of 1,000 Dirhams

Namibia

Illegalises LGBT persons and any form of sexual relations between males

Highest punishment: Unclear

Nigeria

Illegalises LGBT persons and any form of sexual relations between males and females, gender expression of trans people

Imposes the death penalty

Highest punishment: Death by stoning

Senegal

Illegalises LGBT persons and any form of sexual relations between males and females

Highest punishment: Five years imprisonment and a fine of 1,500,000 West African CFA Francs

Sierra Leone

Illegalises LGBT persons and any form of sexual relations between males

Highest punishment: Life imprisonment

Somalia

Illegalises LGBT persons and any form of sexual relations between males and females

Highest punishment: Death penalty

South Sudan

Illegalises LGBT persons and any form of sexual relations between males, gender expression of trans people

Highest punishment: Fourteen years imprisonment and a fine

Sudan

Illegalises LGBT persons and any form of sexual relations between males and females

Highest punishment: Life imprisonment

Tanzania

Illegalises LGBT persons and any form of sexual relations between males and females

Highest punishment: Life imprisonment

The Gambia

Illegalises LGBT persons and any form of sexual relations between males and females, gender expression of trans people

Highest punishment: Life imprisonment

Togo

Illegalises LGBT persons and any form of sexual relations between males and females

Highest punishment: Three years imprisonment and a fine of 500,000 West African CFA Francs

Tunisia

Illegalises LGBT persons and any form of sexual relations between males and females

Highest punishment: Three years imprisonment

Uganda

Illegalises LGBT persons and any form of sexual relations between males and females

Highest punishment: Life imprisonment or the death penalty

Zambia

Illegalises LGBT persons and any form of sexual relations between males and females

Highest punishment: Life imprisonment

Zimbabwe

Illegalises LGBT persons and any form of sexual relations between males

Highest punishment: One year imprisonment and a fine