ACHPR African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights
Human Rights our Collective Responsibility
INTER-SESSION ACTIVITY REPORT
(May – October 2025)
Presented by
HONOURABLE COMMISSIONER IDRISSA SOW CHAIRPERSON OF THE WORKING GROUP ON THE DEATH PENALTY, EXTRA- JUDICIAL, SUMMARY OR ARBITRARY EXECUTIONS AND ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES IN AFRICA
85th Ordinary Session of the ACHPR Banjul, The Gambia – 7 to 30 October 2025
INTRODUCTION
- This Report is submitted in accordance with Rules 25 (3) and 64 of the Rules of Procedure of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (the Commission) and Section 3 (d) of the Rules Governing the Establishment and Functioning of the Special Mechanisms of the Commission. It covers activities carried out during the intersession period from May to October 2025.
- The report comprises four sections: Section I presents an overview of the situation regarding death penalty, extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and enforced disappearances in Africa. Section II covers the activities carried out in my capacity as Chairperson of the Working Group on the Death Penalty, Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions and Enforced Disappearances in Africa (Working Group) and as a member of other special mechanisms; Section III covers the activities carried out in my capacity as Commissioner and Country Rapporteur; and Section IV is devoted to conclusions and recommendations.
Section I: Situation regarding death penalty, extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and enforced disappearances in Africa
A. Death penalty
- During the period under review, the situation regarding the death penalty in Africa remained unchanged. Of the 54 States Parties to the Charter, 26 have abolished the death penalty for all crimes,¹ 3 have done so for ordinary crimes,² while 17 others maintain a moratorium on executions.³
- These figures indicate that the African continent is following a predominantly abolitionist trend.
- Indeed, the vast majority of African States have now abolished the death penalty in law or in practice, meaning that executions are rare, except in a very small minority of States.
- The Commission has often expressed concern about the fairness of proceedings leading to convictions in many “retentionist” States. And while it is true that executions are now carried out in only a very small number of States, serious concerns remain as to the extent to which the continued existence of the death penalty violates the prohibition of torture and other cruel or inhuman treatment.
- It is also important to note that today, some of the most significant challenges relate to the continued application of the death penalty for offences that do not meet the threshold of “the most serious crimes,” and that are sometimes applied mandatorily, in blatant violation of the norms and principles relating to the protection of the right to life.