Lawmakers unanimously approved a new penal code, reinstating capital punishment for severe crimes including terrorism and fatal fraud.
Burkina Faso's parliament has reinstated the death penalty for acts of terrorism, treason, espionage, parricide, and fatal fraud under a new penal code. The law, which revises a 2018 statute, was adopted unanimously by the seventy-one members of the People's Legislative Assembly. Justice Minister Edasso Rodrigue Bayala stated the return of capital punishment is primarily a response to the realities of combating terrorism, noting that the previous leniency was used by extremist groups for recruitment.
The revised code now mandates the death penalty for individuals acting as perpetrators or accomplices in terrorist acts, espionage, and treason. Additionally, the importation of expired or prohibited products that result in death will also be punishable by capital punishment. Minister Bayala emphasized that these severe penalties are intended to align with the gravity of such offenses and to deter future criminal activity.
Capital punishment had been abolished in Burkina Faso in 2018, with the last recorded execution occurring in 1988. The government aims for the new penal code to strengthen public order, uphold national values, and enhance security. The Ministry of Justice plans to conduct outreach to familiarize citizens with the updated legal framework, including translations into national languages.
Why it mattersThe new penal code directly impacts citizens by reintroducing the death penalty for serious crimes, affecting their legal standing and personal safety.
Read in the ASJ desk →