Burkina Faso reinstates death penalty via new Penal Code

Burkina Faso’s legislative assembly has unanimously adopted a revised Penal Code that reinstates the death penalty, reversing the country’s 2018 abolition of capital punishment for ordinary crimes. The new legislation, passed on 20 October 2026, applies to several offenses including terrorism, high treason, espionage, parricide, and the importation of prohibited or expired products that result in death.

Methods of execution specified in the text include shooting, lethal injection, hanging, or electrocution. Justice Minister Edasso Rodrigue Bayala suggested the measure could serve as a deterrent against jihadist groups. However, the Committee for Justice (CFJ) has condemned the decision, stating that capital punishment is not a substitute for effective criminal investigations and poses a risk of irreversible judicial errors.

Human rights observers have expressed concern regarding the timing of this decision, noting it occurs amidst reports of restrictions on civic freedoms and allegations of arbitrary detention. Critics argue that the inclusion of political offenses like espionage and treason increases the risk of politically motivated prosecutions.