The government in the West African state of Mali plans to abolish the death penalty, three decades after it carried out its last execution, it said on Thursday.
A Cabinet meeting on Wednesday adopted a Bill that ”stipulated that the death penalty be abolished and … that it is replaced by life imprisonment”, said a statement.
The Parliament will soon debate the Bill and if passed it will become law after signature by the head of state.
The last execution in the West African country was carried out on August 21 1980. Two people convicted of murder and armed robbery were then hanged.
Since then, death penalties have been commuted to prison terms on presidential clemency. — Sapa-AFP