Executions decline in Sub-Saharan Africa: Rights group

By Hassan Isilow

JOHANNESBURG (AA) - Sub-Saharan Africa is "a beacon of hope" in the fight to end the death penalty, Amnesty International said Thursday.

In its annual report on capital punishment, the human rights group said 20 countries in sub-Saharan Africa have abolished the death penalty for all crimes.

“It is high time that the rest of the world follows their lead and consigns this abhorrent punishment to the history books,” it said.

The report recorded a decline in the number of executing countries across Sub-Saharan Africa, from five in 2016 to two in 2017. South Sudan and Somalia were the only countries that executed offenders last year.

The rights watchdog said reports indicate that Botswana and Sudan resumed executions this year. “This must not overshadow the positive steps being taken by other countries across the region."

There was a significant decline in executions across the world. At least 993 executions were recorded in 23 countries in 2017, down by 4 percent from 2016 where 1,032 executions took place.

Meanwhile, 2,591 death sentences were recorded in 53 countries in 2017, a significant decrease from the record-high of 3,117 recorded in 2016.

“These figures do not include the thousands of death sentences and executions that Amnesty International believes were imposed and implemented in China, where figures remain classified as a state secret,” it said.