Burkina Faso has reinstated the death penalty for a range of offences, including terrorism, treason and espionage, marking a major reversal of its 2018 abolition of capital punishment.
The country’s Justice Ministry announced the decision on Tuesday following a unanimous vote by the unelected legislature to approve a new penal code.
Authorities said the measure was intended to strengthen public order, uphold national values and improve security in the West African country, which has been under military rule since a coup in 2022.
The military government, led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, had signalled its intention to restore capital punishment, with the leader announcing plans to revive the penalty last year.
According to the state news agency, the revised penal code makes several offences punishable by death, including terrorism, espionage, treason and patricide.
The list also includes the importation of expired or prohibited products that cause death, extending the scope of capital punishment to certain offences involving dangerous goods.
The decision has, however, raised concerns among human rights advocates, who have opposed efforts to reintroduce the death penalty.
Amnesty International had urged the government not to restore capital punishment, reflecting broader concerns over the use of executions and the protection of fundamental rights.
Burkina Faso abolished the death penalty in 2018, although its last recorded execution took place in 1988.
The reinstatement represents a significant change in the country’s criminal justice system and comes as the military authorities continue to pursue their security and governance agenda.
The move is likely to intensify debate over the balance between public security, criminal accountability and human rights, particularly as international organisations continue to advocate for the abolition of capital punishment.
