A new penal code in Niger, enacted in February, has criminalized homosexuality for the first time in the country’s history, imposing severe penalties including lengthy prison sentences and substantial fines for “indecent or unnatural acts” and same-sex relations. This legislative shift has led to a wave of arrests, with dozens detained and sixteen men, including military officials, imprisoned, creating a hostile environment for LGBTQ+ individuals and disrupting vital HIV services. The crackdown is occurring within a broader regional trend of increased anti-LGBTQ+ legislation across sub-Saharan Africa, often framed by political leaders as a defense of “African values” and sovereignty.
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Ghana’s Parliament has enacted a severe anti-LGBTQ+ law, imposing prison sentences of up to ten years for promoting or sponsoring LGBTQ+ activities and three years for engaging in homosexual acts. This legislation, which passed with strong backing from religious groups and condemnation from human rights advocates, aims to uphold traditional values but raises concerns about constitutional rights and potential discrimination. The bill, a revised version of one that expired, includes exemptions for legal, media, and healthcare professionals, while Ghana’s existing colonial-era law already criminalizes same-sex relations, albeit without recent prosecutions. This development aligns with a broader conservative trend across Africa, where over thirty countries criminalize same-sex acts, and raises economic concerns regarding international financing.
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African sovereigns face significantly higher borrowing costs, reaching 9% in 2024 compared to 4.7% in emerging Asia, a gap that costs the continent $75 billion annually due to credit rating subjectivity. Despite strong economic growth across Africa, 80% of rated sovereigns are classified as speculative, and only four hold investment-grade ratings, indicating a disparity between economic fundamentals and perceived risk. The impending launch of the African Credit Rating Agency in June 2026 offers a potential avenue to challenge this pricing gap by providing region-specific assessments and introducing competition to the dominant global rating agencies.
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John Q. Hosedrinker