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Burkina Faso Moves to Reinstate Death Penalty for Treason, Terrorism and Espionage

08:02 PM, 12/05/2025
Burkina Faso Moves to Reinstate Death Penalty for Treason, Terrorism and Espionage

Burkina Faso's Council of Ministers approved a draft law to reinstate the death penalty for crimes including treason, terrorism and espionage, Justice Minister Edasso Rodrigue Bayala said on Facebook. The death penalty was abolished in 2018; the bill still requires parliamentary approval and judicial review before becoming law. Since a 2022 coup, the military government has postponed elections, dissolved the electoral commission and faced accusations of silencing media and committing human rights abuses. The country continues to battle a worsening security crisis in the Sahel driven by extremist groups.

Burkina Faso Moves to Reinstate Death Penalty

Burkina Faso's Council of Ministers has approved a draft law to reinstate the death penalty for offenses including treason, terrorism and espionage, government officials said.

Justice Minister Edasso Rodrigue Bayala wrote on Facebook late Thursday that the bill's adoption is part of reforms "to have a justice that responds to the deep aspirations of our people."

The death penalty was abolished in Burkina Faso in 2018. Under the current process, the draft law must still be approved by parliament and reviewed by the courts before it can take effect.

Political Context

Since seizing power in a 2022 coup, Burkina Faso's military leaders have instituted wide-ranging changes, including postponing elections that were expected to return civilian rule and dissolving the independent electoral commission.

Press Freedom And Human Rights Concerns

Authorities have increasingly curtailed critical media coverage: regulators suspended BBC and Voice of America radio broadcasts over their reporting of a mass killing of civilians attributed to the armed forces, and three prominent journalists were arrested earlier this year. The military administration has been accused by observers and rights groups of human rights abuses, including the detention of journalists critical of the government.

Security Challenges

The landlocked country of about 23 million people faces a deepening security crisis in the Sahel region south of the Sahara. Violence from extremist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State has intensified in recent years, complicating the government’s efforts to restore stability.

The proposed reinstatement of capital punishment marks a significant reversal of Burkina Faso's 2018 abolition and could attract scrutiny from international rights organizations and foreign partners if it advances through parliament and the courts.

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Burkina Faso Moves to Reinstate Death Penalty for Treason, Terrorism and Espionage - CRBC News