The European Union has hailed Chad for abolishing the death penalty for terrorism crimes nearly five years since its last execution.
In a statement on Saturday, the EU Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Virginie Battu-Henriksson, said the move by Chad should be emulated by other countries that still allow death penalties.
“With this law, Chad has become the 22nd African state to abolish the death penalty for all crimes,” said Battu-Henriksson.
“It sends a strong signal to other countries around the world and contributes to the gradual abolition of the death penalty in Africa. 80% of the Member States of the African Union are already abolitionists in law or in practice. The European Union is strongly opposed to the death penalty under all circumstances.”
Chad passed legislation in 2016 to abolish capital punishment, but made an exception for perpetrators of terrorism.
The Sahel country now becomes the 22nd member of the African Union to abolish the death penalty.
Battu-Henriksson said the decision by Chad is a positive step towards the harmonization of the judicial framework of the G5 Sahel in the fight against terrorism.
