Reclaiming LGBTQI+ Rights in Africa

December 29, 2025
author: Thapelo Moeketsi

A 2025 report by the European Parliamentary Research Service revealed that 31 countries in Africa still criminalize same-sex relationships. In September 2025, the number rose to 32, as Burkina Faso criminalized homosexuality. The hostility that the LGBTQI+ community in Africa faces stems from cultural and legal biases. Identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or other queer identity (LGBTQI+) is illegal in most parts of the continent. Laws prohibiting same-sex relationships largely date back to the colonial era and continue to endanger the LGBTQI+ community. To end the hostility, African countries must repeal colonial-era laws and foster inclusion for the LGBTQI+ community. Local communities must confront harmful beliefs influencing homophobia and support survivors of LGBTQI-related violence.

Repealing colonial-era laws in Africa is necessary for progress and prosperity. A 2022 study by Ayodele Sogunro found that homophobia is not indigenous to Africa. Colonial authorities introduced and enforced homophobia through legal systems aimed at dividing and controlling Africans. Repealing these laws would be an opportunity for African countries to replace inherited oppression with African values of justice, community, and shared humanity. This will further recognise and restore the dignity of people identifying as LGBTQI+. It is with dignity that people can thrive and reach their potential, and contribute to the development of their communities and countries.

The progress realized in a few African countries offers hope for the continent. Angola, Mozambique, and Botswana have already repealed anti-LGBTQI+ laws. However, Ghana and Mali are moving in the opposite direction and proposing harsher measures. These countries and other African countries still hostile toward the LGBTQI+ community should follow the examples of Angola, Mozambique, and Botswana. They must realize that being outside the heterosexual norm is completely natural and normal. Laws and policies should not exclude people and make them feel uncomfortable because of their gender identity and sexual orientation. Rather, they should acknowledge ‌LGBTQI+ identities and allow individuals to express their sexual orientations freely.


…homophobia is not indigenous to Africa. Colonial authorities introduced and enforced homophobia through legal systems aimed at dividing and controlling Africans.

Education is critical to reshaping the views of Africans about LGBTQI+ and same-sex relationships. Schools should encourage empathy, diversity, and inclusion for the LGBTQI+ community. As the Nigerian writer, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, said, “The problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but that they are incomplete. They make one story become the only story.” Adichie’s statement reflects how society reduces LGBTQI+ to a single harmful narrative, overlooking their full humanity and diverse experiences. This stereotypical narrative also fuels misunderstanding and hostility towards the LGBTQI+ community. Inclusive education fosters empathy, understanding, and an accepting society.

Broadening perspectives within and beyond the classroom is necessary. Schools should introduce critical discourses that challenge stereotypes about LGBTQI+. Schools should also be supportive spaces for LGBTQI+ students to express themselves freely and be vocal about their stories and experiences without the risk of exclusion or the influence of misinformation and bias. Educators can influence the acceptance or rejection of the LGBTQI+ community. They should encourage respect for LGBTQI+ identities, creating a safe environment for the community. Beyond the classroom, scholarship and research should encourage inclusive discourse and discourage anti-LGBTQI+ ideologies.

Victims and survivors of LGBTQI-related violence need support. LGBTQI+ individuals often face unjust arrests, forced anal examinations, and ‌so-called corrective rape. Victims of these acts deserve justice, protection, and healing. Governments must implement policies that prohibit such practices and instead hold perpetrators accountable. Justice must be unbiased, with a commitment toward protecting individual dignity regardless of an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity.


Africans should embrace the Ubuntu concept, which encourages seeing one another as a community, not reducing individuals’ identities to whom they choose to love or be intimate with.

Support services—legal and psychosocial—should be readily available to the survivors of these inhumane acts. Private hospitals and healthcare providers can support LGBTQI+ survivors by offering safe, confidential, and inclusive medical care. Collaborating with LGBTQI+ advocacy organizations can also enhance staff training and improve the quality of care for these survivors. Such collaborations can also help establish clear referral pathways, ensuring survivors receive comprehensive support that addresses their medical, legal, and emotional needs.

Change must begin at the community level. African communities must embrace their values of shared humanity and compassion to support and protect everyone equally. Perpetrators of harmful practices often seek justification in cultural or religious traditions. These traditions should not justify discrimination. The values of respect, care, and togetherness enrich African traditions. These values prevail, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. By reviving these inclusive values through community dialogue and reorientation, societies can challenge stigma and foster safer environments for the LGBTQI+ community.

Traditional and religious leaders must help build inclusive communities. They can become powerful voices for acceptance and understanding. Addressing homophobia does not require adopting foreign ideologies. It should involve restoring the ideals of African societies that once valued harmony, inclusion, and mutual respect. Africans should embrace the Ubuntu concept, which encourages seeing one another as a community, not reducing individuals’ identities to whom they choose to love or be intimate with.

Africa’s rejection of LGBTQI+ people builds on colonial laws, fear of losing traditional or religious control, and misconceptions. Africa must restore justice and compassion and build a continent where everyone lives openly and safely.

Thapelo Moeketsi is a writing fellow at African Liberty. He is on X @Wil_Moeketsi.

Article was first published by Mamba Online.

Photo by Sophie Popplewell on Unsplash.