Mali - October 2024

On 31 October, Mali’s National Transitional Council passed a law criminalizing same-sex relationships, marking a significant change in the country’s legal framework. While same-sex conduct was not previously illegal, vague provisions in the penal code, such as Article 225 penalizing ‘public indecency,’ were often used to target LGBTQIA+ individuals. Justice Minister Mamadou Kassogué declared that its provisions ‘prohibit homosexuality in Mali’ and that ‘anyone who indulges in this practice or promotes or condones it, will be prosecuted’. The penalties for breaching the law remain unclear. In order to be final, the bill will have to be signed by Mali’s military leaders.

Sources: News Central, Barron’s, Human Rights Watch, X