Chad abolishes the death penalty for acts of terrorism

Text by: RFI Follow

The National Assembly adopted this Tuesday, April 28, a new law on terrorism. Main innovation: the new text removes the death penalty which was reintroduced in summer 2015 following the terrorist attacks of Boko Haram.

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With our correspondent in Ndjamena , Madjiasra Nako

Parliament unanimously adopted the new terrorism law, rewritten in part under pressure from the international community. In June 2015, when the country had just suffered the first Boko Haram attacks, the government passed a law combating terrorism which provides for the death penalty for terrorists.

But since then, there has only been one execution. That of ten members of the jihadist movement arrested after the attacks. In 2017, the new Criminal Code abolishes the death penalty for ordinary crimes but maintains it when it comes to terrorism. A provision which complicates the task for the allies of Ndjamena in the fight against terrorism within the framework of the G5 Sahel.

"  Judicial cooperation, for example, is complicated for certain countries which will have to extradite terrorists to Chad, which could execute them ," explains an expert, who adds that the situation in Chad also annoys Western partners who risk being accused of financing a capital punishment country.

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• Chad
• Justice
• Terrorism

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