South Sudan should join the great majority of United Nations countries that have abolished the death penalty in law.
A coalition of national and international organizations wrote to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nhial Deng Nhial, about South Sudan’s continued use of the death penalty and asked for a moratorium on executions and the abolition of capital punishment.
Africa Director at Amnesty International Audrey Gaughran said South Sudan should take the opportunity of the UN General Assembly resolution on the death penalty to join movement toward abolition across Africa and around the world.
She said President Salva Kiir Mayardit should immediately declare an official moratorium on executions, and the government should urgently address the continuing shortcomings in the country’s administration of justice.
In December 2012, South Sudan will have its first opportunity to vote on a UN General Assembly resolution to establish a moratorium on executions with a view to abolish death penalty.