Sierra Leone's Parliament Votes to Abolish Death Penalty

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Sierra Leonean Parliament has unanimously voted to abolish capital punishment, President Julius Maada Bio said on Friday.

The law will take effect once signed by the president.

"Today, I have fulfilled a governance pledge to permanently abolish the death penalty in Sierra Leone. I thank citizens, members of parliament, development partners, and rights groups that have steadfastly stood with us to make history", the Sierra Leonean leader wrote on Twitter.

UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab welcomed the move as an "important milestone" and conveyed London's readiness to continue to support Sierra Leone in the "promotion & protection of human rights".

Fantastic to see that the Sierra Leonean Parliament has voted to abolish the death penalty. Congratulations to @PresidentBio & the people of Sierra Leone on this important milestone. The UK will continue to support Sierra Leone in the promotion & protection of human rights 🇬🇧🇸🇱

— Dominic Raab (@DominicRaab) July 23, 2021

No execution has taken place in Sierra Leone since 1998, with the death penalty often substituted by other punishments, but that hasn't spared the country from criticism by human rights groups, however. Announcing the upcoming plans to abolish capital punishment in March, Sierra Leonean Justice Minister Umaru Napoleon Koroma said it was aimed at protecting basic human rights.

Sierra Leone will be the 23rd African country putting an end to colonial-era death penalty laws. Malawi's Supreme Court ruled capital punishment unconstitutional in April, and Chad did the same last year.