Chadian National Assembly Votes To Abolish The Death Penalty

The Chadian National Assembly voted unanimously on Tuesday to abolish the death penalty in this Sahelian country where the death penalty was still authorized for terrorist acts, the justice minister told Nigeria News.

“The deputies voted unanimously to abolish the death penalty for acts of terrorism,” said Minister Djimet Arabi, the originator of the bill submitted to the Assembly several months ago.

To enter into force, the measure must still be promulgated by President Idriss Déby Itno. In 2016, Chad adopted a reform of the Penal Code, repealing the death penalty, except in cases of terrorism.

The measure voted Tuesday aims to “harmonize our anti-terrorism legislation with those of all G5 Sahel countries that do not provide for the death penalty for acts of terrorism,” said the Minister of Justice.

He was referring to the G5 Sahel, a regional organization grouping Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad.

A huge country stretching from central Africa to the Sahelo-Saharan strip, Chad is under the threat of the jihadist group Boko Haram in the province of Lake, located in western Chad.