The United Nations Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial executions called for the complete removal of the death penalty from the constitution.
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Morris Tidball-Binz, urged The Gambia to fully abolish the death penalty. He stated that its retention in the Constitution is inconsistent with international law, despite significant reforms. Tidball-Binz, a forensic doctor, made these remarks at the conclusion of a 12-day visit to assess the right to life and accountability for past crimes.
The Rapporteur noted that The Gambia abolished the death penalty in 1993, becoming a human rights beacon, but it was reinstated after a 1994 coup. He recalled the 2012 executions of nine death row inmates, describing them as arbitrary killings and forced disappearances, with their bodies never recovered. While welcoming the 2025 Criminal Act that removes the death penalty, he stressed its constitutional presence remains an issue.
Tidball-Binz praised The Gambia's progress since 2017, including reforms in the justice system and improved prison conditions. He highlighted the appointment of a Special Prosecutor in September 2026 for high-profile cases and acknowledged investigations into recent killings, such as the 2018 Faraba Banta student deaths and the 2025 death of Omar Badjie, noting that impunity has ended.
Why it mattersThe retention of the death penalty in the constitution affects the country's adherence to international human rights obligations.
Read in the ASJ desk →