The military government has reinstated capital punishment for offences including terrorism, high treason and espionage, reversing its 2018 abolition for ordinary crimes.
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso — Burkina Faso’s transitional parliament has unanimously approved a new penal code restoring the death penalty for terrorism and several other serious offences, reversing a major legal reform introduced in 2018.
All 71 members of the unelected legislature voted in favour of the legislation, which allows courts to impose capital punishment for offences including terrorism, high treason, espionage and parricide.
The new provisions also cover the importation of expired or prohibited products when the offence results in death.
The decision comes as Burkina Faso’s military-led government, headed by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, continues its campaign against armed Islamist groups operating across the country.
Burkina Faso Reintroduces Capital Punishment After 2018 Abolition
Burkina Faso abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 2018, marking a significant change in the country’s criminal justice system.
Its last known judicial execution took place in 1988.
The newly approved penal code restores capital punishment for specified offences, including crimes linked to national security.
Justice Minister Edasso Rodrigue Bayala defended the legislation, arguing that tougher penalties were necessary as the country confronts a prolonged insurgency.
According to Bayala, life imprisonment, previously the maximum punishment for the offences concerned, had not provided sufficient deterrence against militants and potential recruits.
The government has presented the change as part of broader efforts to strengthen national security and respond to violent extremism.
Human Rights Watch Warns of Wrongful Convictions
Human Rights Watch has condemned the decision, warning that the return of capital punishment could have serious consequences for human rights and the administration of justice.
The organisation expressed concern that the death penalty could be used against critics of Burkina Faso’s military authorities.
It also pointed to weaknesses in the country’s judicial system, particularly in terrorism-related cases.
According to the rights group, prolonged investigations, procedural failures and shortcomings in due-process protections increase the risk of wrongful convictions.
Human Rights Watch warned that such failures become especially serious in death penalty cases because an execution cannot be reversed.
Ibrahim Traoré’s Government Faces Growing Rights Concerns
The restoration of the death penalty comes amid continued scrutiny of Burkina Faso’s military government over its treatment of political opponents, journalists and civil society organisations.
Human Rights Watch has accused the authorities of arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances and forced conscription involving people critical of the government.
The military authorities have faced mounting pressure over civil liberties while continuing to prioritise the fight against armed Islamist groups.
Burkina Faso has experienced years of attacks by militants linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State, with violence affecting communities and security forces across large parts of the country.
The insurgency has placed significant pressure on the government and contributed to a prolonged humanitarian and security crisis.
Death Penalty Decision Raises Questions Over Justice and Security
The unanimous parliamentary vote marks a significant shift in Burkina Faso’s criminal justice policy.
While the government argues that capital punishment will help deter serious crimes and strengthen its response to terrorism, human rights organisations warn that the measure carries substantial risks in a justice system already facing scrutiny.
The legislation has renewed debate over whether harsher criminal penalties can improve security without undermining legal protections and fundamental rights.
