Equatorial Guinea has abolished the death penalty, state television announced on Monday, September 18, citing a law promulgated by Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, president of this small oil country in Central Africa, among the most closed and under the regime of the most authoritarians in the world.
"The death penalty is totally abolished in the Republic of Equatorial Guinea"
, states the law of the new Equatorial Guinean penal code signed by the Head of State and broadcast by the Vice President on Twitter.
The last official execution dates back to 2014 according to Amnesty International, but the regime is regularly accused by international NGOs and the UN of enforced disappearances, arbitrary detentions and torture in particular.