Chad abolishes death penalty for terror-related crimes; what this means for B’Haram

Chad passed a new anti-terrorism law Tuesday that abolishes the death penalty for terrorism and other allied crimes in the country.

The new law, according to the country’s parliament, replaces legislation that was introduced on July 30, 2015, which made acts of terrorism punishable by death.

The death penalty was reinstated for terror crimes – after the government said in 2014 it would be abolished – because of attacks by Boko Haram sect in the capital of N’Djamena, which left 67 dead, including 10 suicide bombers, and 182 injured.

The move now abolishes the death penalty in Chad overall.

At the time, civil and human rights groups were opposed to the move, concerned that it could be used to curb rights.

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After four prisoners were sentenced to death in Chad in 2018, the European Union called on the government to join the majority of African Union states that had abolished the death penalty.

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