Burkina Faso’s military government is considering reinstating the death penalty, a move that would reverse the country’s 2018 abolition.
A government source confirmed the discussion to AFP on Saturday, signaling potential changes to the penal code.
The last execution in Burkina Faso occurred in 1988, according to Amnesty International. Since then, the nation has maintained a moratorium on capital punishment.
However, the current military regime, led by Captain Ibrahim Traore, is now revisiting this controversial issue.
Justice Minister Rodrigue Bayala revealed on Friday that discussions about reintroducing the death penalty were underway.
The proposal, he explained, would be presented to the Transitional Legislative Assembly (ALT) for approval. The exact timeline for this process has yet to be determined.
Bayala also confirmed that amendments to the criminal code are under consideration.
These changes are aimed at aligning the legal framework with the vision set by Traore’s government, which took power in a coup in September 2022.
This potential shift comes amid broader legal reforms in Burkina Faso, including a recent bill that introduces community service as a punishment.
In addition, the government passed a bill in July that seeks to ban homosexuality, further reflecting the regime’s conservative stance on social issues.
Amnesty International has expressed concern over the rising use of the death penalty in Africa. In an October statement, the group noted a dramatic increase in executions and death sentences across the continent. Yet, 24 Sub-Saharan African nations have abolished capital punishment in all circumstances, with others, like Kenya and Zimbabwe, pushing forward abolition bills.
