Amnesty International has issued a strong condemnation of the military government in Burkina Faso over its move to bring back capital punishment. The junta's recent decision marks a potential reversal of a seven-year abolition of the death penalty in the troubled Sahel nation.
Junta's Draft Law Sparks International Outcry
The council of ministers under the leadership of Captain Ibrahim Traore adopted a draft penal code on Thursday, 4 December 2025. This proposed legislation seeks to reintroduce the death penalty for a range of serious crimes. The listed offences include high treason, acts of terrorism, and espionage.
In a statement released on Friday, 5 December 2025, Amnesty International's regional director for West and Central Africa, Marceau Sivieude, called for an immediate halt to the plan. He argued that the military must stop "regardless of the nature of the offences or crimes committed."
Sivieude emphasised the global trend away from such punishments, stating, "Countries that still retain the death penalty are an isolated minority as the world continues to move away from this cruel punishment." He warned that approving this proposal would position Burkina Faso against the international goal of abolition.
Broader Context of the Legal Reforms
The draft law is part of broader judicial reforms announced by the transitional government. Justice Minister Edasso Rodrigue Bayala stated that the changes aim to deliver justice that aligns with the people's aspirations. However, the proposed code also includes controversial clauses beyond capital punishment.
According to the Burkinabe government's information service, the new penal code also penalises "the promotion and practices of homosexuality and related acts." This follows a law adopted in September 2025 that targets "perpetrators of homosexual practices" with prison sentences of up to five years.
The nation, led by Traore since a 2022 military coup, has been battling jihadist insurgencies linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State for over a decade. The junta has frequently silenced critics who question its ability to restore security.
Regional Trends and Historical Precedent
Amnesty International noted that Burkina Faso's last recorded execution was in 1988. The move to reinstate the penalty places it alongside other African nations reconsidering capital punishment.
In 2024, the Democratic Republic of Congo ended a moratorium on the death penalty that had lasted more than two decades. Similarly, Nigeria has recently moved to apply capital punishment for certain drug-related crimes.
According to Amnesty's data, 14 countries in sub-Saharan Africa handed down death sentences in 2024. However, Somalia was the only nation in the region confirmed to have carried out executions for the second consecutive year.
The draft law now awaits approval from the transitional legislature established by the ruling junta. Its passage would signify a major policy shift for Burkina Faso, which has pursued anti-Western policies and strengthened ties with Russia and Iran under Traore's leadership.
