Equatorial Guinea latest African country to abolish death penalty

MALABO (Reuters) -Equatorial Guinea has abolished the death penalty, according to a new criminal code signed by veteran President Teodoro Obiang, adding to a growing list of African countries seeking to extinguish a vestige of colonial rule.

The West African oil-producing country of 1.4 million people is no stranger to political violence. Campaign groups have accused the government of torture, arbitrary detentions and sham trials during Obiang's 43 years in power.

Yet the world's longest-serving president appears willing to move with other African countries that have ended the practice. The last execution took place eight years ago, according to Amnesty International.

The new penal law, seen by Reuters on Tuesday, is dated Aug. 17 but was officially published over the weekend. It will come into force in 90 days, the document said.

Obiang's son, Vice-President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, described the abolition as "historical and memorable".

"I write it with capital letters to seal this unique moment," he tweeted on Monday. "EQUATORIAL GUINEA HAS ABOLISHED THE DEATH PENALTY."

Capital punishment, adopted in some places during colonial rule, remains legal in just over 30 African countries. But more than 20 of those have not carried out executions for at least 10 years, according to data provider Statista.

Sierra Leone's parliament last year voted unanimously to abolish the death penalty. In the last two years, Malawi and Chad have both ruled it to be unconstitutional.

Globally, about 170 countries have abolished or introduced moratoria against the death penalty, according to the United Nations.

Equatorial Guinea's new law bolsters "the global trend towards universal abolition" and contributes "to the enhancement and development of human rights," acting U.N. High Commissioner for human rights Nada Al-Nashif said in a statement.

Vast problems remain in Equatorial Guinea. Political dissent is suppressed and oil wealth benefits an elite few.

Obiang Mangue was tried in absentia and convicted of embezzlement by a French court in 2020. Assets that foreign powers say he bought with ill-gotten gains include a crystal-covered glove worn by Michael Jackson, an armoured Rolls-Royce limousine and a yacht. He has denied wrongdoing.

(Reporting by Bernardino Ndze Biyoa; Writing by Sofia Christensen and Edward McAllister; Editing by Estelle Shirbon, Mark Heinrich and Richard Chang)