Abolition of the Death Penalty Gaining Ground in Africa

During the past 10 years, most Commonwealth African countries have moved toward abolishing the death penalty and today almost half of these countries have abandoned the practice according to Amnesty International. Government leaders from around the continent recently met in Entebbe, Uganda, for a two-day summit to discuss capital punishment. Five Southern African Development Countries have abolished capital punishment, and the number of countries ending the death penalty in the Economic Community of West Aftican States region and Mauritania jumped from one to 10 in just one decade. In addition, Presidents from several nations, including Zambia, Nigeria, and Kenya, have taken significant steps toward commuting death sentences and working toward abolition. “Only Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone have carried out executions in the last decade. Amnesty International welcomes positive action across Africa to abolish capital punishment,” noted Amnesty International in a statement. “Worldwide, an average of three countries a year abolishes capital punishment.” (Mail & Guardian Online, May 11, 2004) See International Death Penalty.