Burkina Faso's military-led government has taken a decisive step towards reinstating the death penalty, a punishment it had abolished just seven years ago. The country's Council of Ministers has approved draft legislation that would see capital punishment return for a range of serious offences.
Details of the Proposed Legal Reforms
The proposed law specifically targets crimes including treason, terrorism, and espionage. Justice Minister Edasso Rodrigue Bayala announced the development on social media, framing it as a key part of judicial reforms intended to create "a justice that responds to the deep aspirations of our people". The West African nation had formally abolished capital punishment back in 2018.
For the bill to become law, it must still be formally adopted by parliament and undergo a review by the nation's courts. This legislative push is the latest in a series of sweeping changes enacted by the military leadership, which seized power in a coup in 2022.
A Broader Context of Military Rule and Crackdowns
Since the 2022 takeover, the military government, led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, has implemented numerous reforms. These have included postponing elections that were meant to restore civilian rule and dissolving the independent electoral commission. The administration has also faced significant international criticism for its record on civil liberties.
Burkina Faso has increasingly silenced critical media in recent years. Authorities suspended broadcasts by the BBC and Voice of America for their reporting on a mass killing of civilians allegedly carried out by the country's armed forces. Earlier this year, three prominent journalists were also arrested. The military government has been repeatedly accused of human rights abuses and detaining journalists who are critical of its policies.
This trend extends to social policy. In 2024, the parliament unanimously passed a law banning homosexuality, with penalties of two to five years in prison. This legislation was put into effect over a year after its initial approval by Captain Traoré's government.
Security Crisis and Regional Instability
The landlocked nation of approximately 23 million people is grappling with a severe security crisis. It is situated in the arid Sahel region south of the Sahara, an area plagued in recent years by violence from extremist groups linked to both Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.
Burkina Faso is one of several West African nations where the military has taken control, capitalising on widespread public discontent with previous democratically elected governments over their handling of security issues. The proposed return of the death penalty marks a significant hardening of the state's approach to justice under this military rule, aligning with other conservative legal shifts and raising serious concerns among human rights observers worldwide.
