Burkina Faso’s Military Regime Considers Reinstating Death Penalty

This marks a shift from the 2018 abolition of capital punishment. According to the nation’s Justice Minister, Rodrigue Bayala, the proposal could be introduced in the upcoming draft criminal code. He also stated that there could be further adjustments to the criminal code to ensure it aligns with the vision of the head of state, Captain Ibrahim Traore, who came to power through a 2022 coup. If approved, the proposal would advance to the Transitional Legislative Assembly for potential adoption. This move comes amidst broader legal reforms, including a new community service bill and a proposed ban on homosexuality. Although 24 Sub-Saharan countries have abolished the death penalty for all crimes, Amnesty International reports that there has been a recent surge in death penalty use across the continent.

SOURCE: FRANCE 24