Burkina Faso’s Military Regime Considers Reinstating Death Penalty

Burkina Faso’s military government is contemplating the reinstatement of the death penalty, which was abolished in 2018, The Guardian reported yesterday.

A government source confirmed that discussions are underway to reintroduce capital punishment into the penal code, pending approval from the Transitional Legislative Assembly.

The last execution in the country occurred on September 19, 1988, when four leaders accused of an attempted coup were executed. Justice Minister Rodrigue Bayala announced that the death penalty will be included in the draft criminal code, aligning with the directives of Capt. Ibrahim Traoré, who assumed power after a coup in September 2022.

Despite a promise to restore civilian governance by July 2024, Traoré’s regime has extended military rule and introduced controversial legislation. Amnesty International has reported a rising trend in the use of the death penalty across Africa, despite progress in abolishing it in several countries.