Burundi’s President, Evariste Ndayishimiye, escalated tensions on Friday by vehemently advocating for severe measures against same-sex couples, proposing public stoning as punishment. In a public event broadcast by Burundian media, the President, known for his Catholic beliefs, labeled the union between same-sex couples as an “abominable practice” and suggested a stadium gathering to execute such individuals, deeming it non-sinful for those participating.
Expressing disdain for Western countries pressuring nations to embrace gay rights under the threat of aid withdrawal, Ndayishimiye firmly stated, “Let them keep their help.” He even went as far as urging Burundians abroad practicing homosexuality to abstain from returning to their homeland.
This rhetoric perpetuates the criminalization of homosexuality in Burundi since 2009, carrying potential prison terms for consensual same-sex acts. It reflects broader sentiments prevalent in East African nations, where conservative religious beliefs foster stigmas against LGBTQ+ individuals, mirroring Uganda’s recent adoption of stringent anti-gay laws that triggered international condemnation.
The international community, while previously commending Ndayishimiye for steering Burundi away from isolation, has grown increasingly critical due to unaddressed human rights issues and the country’s persistent poverty despite a change in leadership in June 2020 following President Pierre Nkurunziza’s death. This stance clashes starkly with the President’s inability to improve the nation’s dire human rights situation, overshadowing efforts to end Burundi’s isolation on the global stage.