Capital punishment: the colonial era legacy that still finds fertile ground in Africa

Back in the 18th century when colonialism was losing its ground in Europe, it found fertile soil in Africa. The colonial era was known for the death penalty being given to those who tried to raise their voice. Now years later, thanks to rigorous efforts by human rights organizations and activists, capital punishment is slowly dwindling from across the continent. But still, a lot needs to be done, many countries still have the death penalty practice in their statute books due to the strong withholding of their colonial legacy. 

In July, Sierra Leone became the 23rd country from Africa to abolish capital punishment from its constitutional books. 

During the peak of colonialism in Africa, the death penalty was the most common form of punishment after imprisonment. The practice is said to be deeply embedded in the formation of the continent’s decree. During the 1890s, which were the formative years of Africa, capital punishment was introduced in the continent’s Belgian Congo and German Africa. But French Africa was the region where it was practiced predominantly. France’s oldest colony, Senegal was the region where the death penalty was first introduced. In 1899 the first guillotine punishment was given in Senegal and the only one where it was given. In French Equatorial Africa, French Togo, and French Cameroon, the firing squad was the main execution method until 1957. 

France’s Africa has a death penalty history that is very complex and messy. Crimes that were a threat to colonialism, like gang attacks, armed pillage, rebellions, conspiracy to rebel against the colonial administration were punished by death in French Africa. 

The death penalty deeply finds its roots in racism. Colonial-era administrators politicized and weaponized the practice targeting ethnic and religious groups and labeling them as criminals.

In today’s Africa, many countries are still struggling to break the shackles of colonialism that they have unfortunately inherited. But the growing rebellion across the continent to break the death penalty practice is gaining ground, and hopefully, it would soon all be in history.