Doha:The People's Legislative Assembly has adopted a new Penal Code reinstating the death penalty for crimes such as terrorism, espionage, treason, parricide, and the importation of expired or prohibited products resulting in death. This change was announced by the Minister of Justice, Edasso Rodrigue Bayala.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the revised law, encompassing a total of nine hundred and thirty-three articles, was unanimously approved by the seventy-one members of the assembly. The Justice Minister highlighted that the death penalty's reinstatement is a strategic move to address terrorism more effectively, as previous leniency in the law was being exploited by terrorist groups for recruitment.

Minister Bayala stated that terrorists had been recruiting by assuring potential members that the worst punishment they would face, if captured, would be life imprisonment. The revised legal framework now ensures that all acts of terrorism, whether committed by a perpetrator or an accomplice, are punishable by death. The same applies to acts of espionage and treason.

Additionally, the new Penal Code mandates the death penalty for fraud that results in fatalities. This includes the importation of expired or prohibited products. The Minister noted that this issue has been prevalent in recent events and requires stringent measures.

Parricide is also included in the list of crimes now punishable by death. Minister Bayala defended the reintroduction of capital punishment, asserting that it provides an effective deterrent and appropriate punishment for the most severe offenses.

The death penalty had been abolished in Burkina Faso in 2018, with the last execution occurring in 1988. The recent bill was adopted by the Council of Ministers on December 4, 2025. To ensure public awareness and acceptance of the new law, the Justice Department plans to engage in outreach activities, including translating the Penal Code into national languages.