Burundi’s President Evariste Ndayishimiye sparked international outrage today with his vehement anti-gay rhetoric, urging for the public stoning of same-sex couples.
In a disturbing declaration, he also condemned Western nations for imposing demands regarding gay rights on other countries under the threat of aid withdrawal.
The conservative Christian nation of Burundi has criminalized homosexuality since 2009, imposing prison sentences of up to two years for consensual same-sex acts.
During a public event in the east of Burundi, President Ndayishimiye, a devout Catholic, passionately condemned same-sex marriage as an “abominable practice.”
Responding to a query, he shockingly suggested that individuals engaging in such relationships should be gathered in a stadium and stoned, remarking that those participating in the act would not be committing a sin.
His disdain extended to Western nations pressuring smaller countries to embrace gay marriage or risk losing financial aid. He defiantly stated, “Let them keep their help.”
Furthermore, Ndayishimiye declared that Burundians living abroad who engage in homosexuality should not return to the country, labeling them as having “chosen the devil.”
Homosexuality remains illegal in numerous East African nations, where conservative religious beliefs often foster stigmatization and repression against the LGBTQ+ community. Uganda recently enacted stringent anti-gay laws in May, eliciting global condemnation from rights groups and Western powers. In response, the United States threatened to revoke trade benefits and imposed visa restrictions on Ugandan officials, while the World Bank halted new loans to the country.
The legality of the legislation is currently under review in Uganda’s constitutional court.
Earlier this year in March, Burundi pursued 24 individuals on charges of “homosexual practices” as part of a crackdown on same-sex relationships. This action followed Ndayishimiye’s call for citizens to eradicate homosexuality and treat LGBTQ+ individuals as “pariahs.”
Ndayishimiye ascended to power in June 2020 following the death of President Pierre Nkurunziza. Although praised for gradually ending Burundi’s isolation under his predecessor’s tumultuous rule, Ndayishimiye’s administration has failed to rectify the country’s dismal human rights record.
Burundi, home to 12 million people, remains one of the world’s most impoverished nations despite international acknowledgment.
