President of Burundi, Evariste Ndayishimiye calls for stoning of gay couples.

    Burundi's President Evariste Ndayishimiye expressed strong opposition towards same-sex couples, advocating for public stoning as a punishment. He also criticized Western nations that pressure other countries to embrace gay rights, threatening to withdraw aid. 

   Homosexuality has been illegal in Burundi since 2009, with prison sentences of up to two years for consensual same-sex acts. Ndayishimiye, a Catholic, referred to same-sex marriage as an "abominable practice." 

   He further stated that Burundians living abroad who engage in homosexuality should not return to the country. This stance reflects the prevailing repression and discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community in many East African countries, often influenced by conservative religious beliefs. 

  Uganda, for instance, recently enacted severe anti-gay legislation, leading to international condemnation and repercussions. In Burundi, 24 individuals were charged with "homosexual practices" earlier this year, following Ndayishimiye's call to ostracize and persecute gay individuals.

    Since assuming office in June 2020 following the demise of President Pierre Nkurunziza, Ndayishimiye has received praise from the global community for gradually putting an end to Burundi's years of isolation during his predecessor's tumultuous and violent reign. 

   However, he has been unsuccessful in enhancing the deplorable human rights situation, and the nation, with a population of 12 million, continues to be one of the most impoverished on Earth.