25/05/2020 (Agence Europe) – On Saturday 23 May, the EU welcomed Chad’s adoption of a new anti-terrorism law which no longer prescribes the death penalty for terrorism-related crimes, but which instead uses prison as the most serious punishment. The law of 20 May makes Chad the 22nd African state to abolish the death penalty for all crimes. “It sends a strong signal to other countries in the world and contributes to the progressive abolition of the death penalty in Africa. 80% of the member states of the African Union have already abolished the death penalty either in law or in practice. The European Union is firmly opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances”, said the spokesperson for the European External Action Service. The EU also sees this as “a positive step towards harmonising the judicial framework of the G5 Sahel in the fight against terrorism”. (AN)