Mozambique Scraps Anti-Gay Law

Mozambique legalized homosexuality on Monday when a new penal code came into force that swept away old Portuguese colonial laws, in a victory for campaigners for gay rights in Africa.

The old code, dating back to 1886, targeted anyone “who habitually engages in vices against nature”, but no known prosecutions were brought after Mozambique became independent in 1975. Breaking the law was theoretically punishable by up to three years of hard labour.

Dercio Tsandzana, an influential blogger and activist, said there had been no public discussion of homosexual rights. “The government instead abides by the external pressure put by some embassies and foreign donors,” he said.

Homosexuality is punishable by death in Sudan, Nigeria and Mauritania.