Burundi’s President Évariste Ndayishimiye has criticised gay rights advocacy groups for trying to impose their values on the African continent. He said those acquiring and practicing the habit of homosexuality in his country should be “taken to stadiums and stoned”.
The President said this in response to a question from a reporter on the ongoing Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, or Questioning (LGBTQ+) rights debates.
Mr Ndayishimiye who is a devout Catholic, said alleged pressure from Western countries to promote gay rights will not work in his country, even if it meant losing out on the aid provided by these powerful nations.
He said God was against the act, and anyone caught in the act should be stoned to death.
“For me, I think that if we find these people in Burundi they should be taken to stadiums and be stoned, and doing so would not be a crime,” he said.
Burundi’s president further warned practicing homosexuality to desist from it or relocate to countries that accept it, suggesting that the act was like “choosing between satan and God”.
“If you want to choose Satan now go and live in those countries [in the West] and I think those who strive to go there want to acquire those habits, they should remain there and never bring them to us,” the president said.
Homosexuality is a criminal offence in Burundu, and offenders are liable to serve a two-year jail term.
Many other countries in Africa, including Nigeria, criminalise same-sex sexual activity between men and between women, while tightening laws to include grave penalties for offenders.
Uganda’s stance on gay rights led the World Bank to pause fresh loans to the country, amid many other losses.
The Catholic Church has always condemned same-sex sexual activity. Same-sex marriages are often not recognised by the church.
However, over the years, there has been a radical shift in the norm. Few days ago, Pope Francis made headlines after he formally approved same-sex marriage, while urging priests to bless gay unions in the church.
The move sparked global debates and outrage, especially in countries against the legitimisation of same-sex sexual practices.
