Equatorial Guinea abolishes death penalty – last execution in 2014

Equatorial Guinea, one of the world’s most authoritarian countries, has abolished the death penalty. State television reported Monday, citing a new law signed by President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo.

The death penalty was “completely abolished” in the oil-rich central African country after the president signed a new penal code, the vice president said on Twitter. According to Amnesty International, the last official execution in the small country was carried out in 2014.

However, international non-governmental organizations and the United Nations regularly accuse the regime of enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention and torture.

The measure will take effect within 90 days of its publication in the official state gazette and was previously approved by parliament, where all but one of the 100 MPs represent the ruling party.

President Obiang, 80, has been in power for more than 43 years – a world record if monarchies are excluded. Equatorial Guinea has substantial oil and gas reserves, but the vast majority of its 1.3 million inhabitants live below the poverty line, according to the World Ban.k

The death penalty remains legal in more than 30 African countries, although only about half have executed people in recent years.

Source https://deathpenaltynews.blogspot.com/2022/09/equatorial-guinea-abolishes-death.html