Burkina Faso reinstates the death penalty

Summary

Burkina Faso's parliament adopted a revised penal code on Tuesday that restores the death penalty, nearly a decade after the West African country abolished capital punishment, according to a Justice Ministry statement. ABC News reported the vote was unanimous and that the law reinstates the death penalty for crimes such as terrorism, espionage, and treason. The country has been ruled by a military junta since a 2022 coup. Junta leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré announced plans to reinstate the death penalty last year. Amnesty International, which had urged the country not to bring it back, says the last recorded execution in Burkina Faso took place in 1988. Africanews described the decision as a significant shift in the country's criminal justice system that raises renewed questions about human rights and the use of capital punishment.

Timeline

1. Le Monde

   20 Oct 2026, 23:46 UTCSource ↗

   Le Monde reports that Burkina Faso's junta has reinstated the death penalty, noting that the last execution was in 1988 according to Amnesty International, which had urged against bringing it back, and that junta leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré announced plans to do so last year.

2. Africanews

   21 Oct 2026, 04:46 UTCSource ↗

   Africanews reports that Burkina Faso has reinstated the death penalty according to the justice ministry, with the last recorded execution in 1988, and says the decision marks a significant shift in the criminal justice system and raises renewed human rights questions.

3. The Straits Times

   21 Oct 2026, 10:01 UTCSource ↗

   The Straits Times reports that Burkina Faso's parliament adopted a revised penal code on Tuesday that restores the death penalty, nearly a decade after the country abolished it, citing a Justice Ministry statement.

4. ABC News

   21 Oct 2026, 11:58 UTCSource ↗

   ABC News reports that Burkina Faso's parliament unanimously voted to reinstate the death penalty for crimes such as terrorism, espionage, and treason.