“NO MERCY”: IBRAHIM TRAORÉ WARNS FOREIGN OR LOCAL SPIES IN BURKINA FASO COULD FACE DEATH PENALTY OUAGADOUGOU, BURKINA FASO

Burkina Faso’s military leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, has issued a stern warning to individuals accused of espionage or treason, saying those caught spying for foreign powers could face the death penalty.
Traoré made the remarks during an interview in Ouagadougou on September 28, 2026, as his government continues to adopt a tougher position toward what it considers foreign interference and intelligence operations within the country.
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According to reports on the remarks, Traoré said the death penalty could apply to spies operating in Burkina Faso, including those allegedly working undercover. He also stressed that there would be no leniency for individuals considered to have committed treason against the state.
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The warning comes against the backdrop of increasingly strained relations between Burkina Faso and several Western countries, particularly France. Under Traoré’s leadership, the country has pursued a more independent foreign-policy direction and sought to reduce Western influence.
Death penalty proposal already approved by government
Traoré’s latest comments are also connected to a broader judicial reform announced by Burkina Faso’s government.
In December 2025, the country’s Council of Ministers approved a draft penal code proposing the restoration of the death penalty for certain serious offences, including high treason, terrorism and espionage. The country’s government had abolished the death penalty in 2018.
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The proposed legislation therefore provides important context for Traoré’s latest warning. However, reports on the December 2025 proposal noted that legislative and judicial steps were still required before the measure could fully become law.
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A tougher stance on alleged foreign interference
Traoré’s administration has repeatedly accused foreign actors of attempting to undermine Burkina Faso’s sovereignty as the country battles Islamist armed groups and restructures its international alliances.
The latest warning further demonstrates the government’s increasingly hard-line approach toward alleged espionage and collaboration with foreign powers.
At the same time, claims that a particular individual is a spy should not automatically be treated as established fact without independent evidence.
Traoré’s remarks are likely to intensify debate over Burkina Faso’s security policies, its relationship with foreign governments and the government’s broader efforts to assert national sovereignty.
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