Angola becomes latest African country to decriminalise homosexuality

Following the adoption of her first post-independence penal code, Angola has lifted the ban on homosexuality.

According to Human Rights Watch, Angola’s parliament on Wednesday voted in favour of abolishing the law.

By taking down the “vices against nature provision” widely regarded as legislation against homosexual conduct in the country, the Angolan government sought to overturn discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

According to the new law, anyone refusing to employ or provide services to an individual based on their sexual orientation might face up to two years in jail.

To strongly establish its anti-discriminatory stance on issues bordering on sexual orientation, the Angolan government had granted legal rights to Iris Angola, the country’s sole gay rights lobby group in 2018.

While African countries like Mozambique, Rwanda, Lesotho, Cape Verde, South Africa have legalised gay sex, the act remains illegal in countries like Nigeria, Algeria, Burundi, Egyt, Botswana, Eritrea, Chad, Kenya, Ghana, Libya, Ethiopia, Somalia, Tunisia, Sudan ,Togo, among others.