Burkina Faso’s military government is considering reinstating the death penalty, a government source confirmed on Saturday. The West African nation abolished capital punishment in 2018.
The last execution in Burkina Faso occurred in 1988, according to Amnesty International.
The government source indicated that the reintroduction of capital punishment is under discussion, with the final decision resting with the Transitional Legislative Assembly. While no specific timeline has been set, Justice Minister Rodrigue Bayala hinted at the possibility of incorporating the death penalty into a revised criminal code.
Bayala’s statement came after parliament passed a bill introducing community service. The minister also suggested potential amendments to the criminal code to align with the vision of Captain Ibrahim Traoré, who led a military coup in September 2022.
In July, the Burkinabe government passed legislation banning homosexuality.
Amnesty International has reported a concerning trend of increased use of the death penalty in Africa. The organization noted a significant rise in executions and death sentences across the continent. However, it also highlighted positive developments, with 24 Sub-Saharan African countries abolishing the death penalty for all crimes and two others abolishing it for ordinary crimes.
Kenya and Zimbabwe are currently considering bills to abolish the death penalty for all crimes, while Gambia is undergoing a constitutional amendment process that could effectively eliminate capital punishment.