Sierra Leone
Death penalty and prisoners' rights · Archive since 1999
Data card
- Legal status
- Abolitionist de facto
- Executions recorded in 2026
- 0
- Executions recorded in 2025
- 0
- First news item in the archive
- JANUARY 1, 1999 · Murder, aggravated robbery and treason are capital crimes
- News items in the archive
- 104
Source: Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026.
Sierra Leone is classified as Abolitionist de facto in the Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026. In 2026 the association recorded 0 executions in the country, against 0 the year before. The archive holds 104 news items on Sierra Leone, from 1999 to today.
Latest news
- JANUARY 29, 2005Sierra LeoneDEATH PENALTY
Lawyers Centre for Legal Assistance (LAWCLA) condemned...
Lawyers Centre for Legal Assistance (LAWCLA) condemned...
- JANUARY 25, 2005Sierra LeoneDEATH PENALTY
the Office of the President of Sierra Leone stated in a release that...
the Office of the President of Sierra Leone stated in a release that President Kabbah would not abolish the death penalty from the country's law book.
- JANUARY 25, 2005Sierra LeoneDEATH PENALTY
the Office of the President of Sierra Leone stated in a release that...
the Office of the President of Sierra Leone stated in a release that...
- JANUARY 1, 2005Sierra LeoneDEATH PENALTY
In Sierra Leone murder, aggravated robbery and treason are capital crimes.
In Sierra Leone murder, aggravated robbery and treason are capital crimes.
- DECEMBER 20, 2004Sierra LeoneDEATH PENALTY
ten men charged with plotting to overthrow Sierra Leone's government in 2003 were convicted of treason
ten men charged with plotting to overthrow Sierra Leone's government in 2003 were convicted of treason
- OCTOBER 1, 2004Sierra LeoneDEATH PENALTY
the Sierra Leone Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) finally published its report.
the Sierra Leone Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) finally published its report.
- OCTOBER 1, 2004Sierra LeoneDEATH PENALTY
the Sierra Leone Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) finally published its report
the Sierra Leone Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) finally published its report
- APRIL 21, 2004Sierra LeoneDEATH PENALTY
Sierra Leone voted against the resolution on the death...
Sierra Leone voted against the resolution on the death penalty at the 60th UN Commission on Human Rights
- APRIL 11, 2004Sierra LeoneDEATH PENALTY
In Sierra Leone murder, aggravated robbery and treason are capital crimes.
In Sierra Leone murder, aggravated robbery and treason are capital crimes.
- AUGUST 1, 2003Sierra LeoneDEATH PENALTY
August 4-11, 2003: a joint No Peace Without Justice...
August 4-11, 2003: a joint No Peace Without Justice and Hands Off Cain delegation, led by the President of the Transational Radical Party Sergio Stanzani, visited Sierra Leone to discuss the death penalty and the country's opinion with regard to a worldwi
- JUNE 19, 2003Sierra LeoneDEATH PENALTY
The Southern Regional High Court of Sierra Leone in...
The Southern Regional High Court of Sierra Leone in Bo District sentenced to death 6 people by hanging after convicting them of ritualistic murder
- APRIL 24, 2003Sierra LeoneDEATH PENALTY
Sierra Leone voted against the resolution on the death...
Sierra Leone voted against the resolution on the death penalty approved by the UN Commission on Human Rights, in Geneva
- MARCH 3, 2003Sierra LeoneDEATH PENALTY
Three soldiers and several former militia fighters...
Three soldiers and several former militia fighters were among 15 people charged with treason for allegedly trying to overthrow the government of this newly peaceful West African nation
- JANUARY 1, 2003Sierra LeoneDEATH PENALTY
Murder, aggravated robbery and treason are capital crimes
Murder, aggravated robbery and treason are capital crimes
- MAY 10, 2002Sierra LeoneDEATH PENALTY
After much pressure from the Sweden based International...
After much pressure from the Sweden based International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) in collaboration with Forum of Conscience (FOC), a locally based Human Rights organization, the Sierra Leone government has enacted legislation for Sierra Leoneans to enjo
- APRIL 25, 2002Sierra LeoneDEATH PENALTY
Sierra Leone Arabia voted against the resolution 2002/77...
Sierra Leone Arabia voted against the resolution 2002/77 on the death penalty at the 58th UN Commission on Human Rights
- MARCH 4, 2002Sierra LeoneDEATH PENALTY
Foday Sankoh, the leader of Sierra Leone's rebel movement,...
Foday Sankoh, the leader of Sierra Leone's rebel movement, appeared in a Freetown courtroom charged with robbery and murder
- JANUARY 14, 2002Sierra LeoneDEATH PENALTY
United Nations officials say a special court being...
United Nations officials say a special court being set up in Sierra Leone to try people accused of war crimes during the decade-long civil war will be able to give out jail terms but not death sentences
- JANUARY 1, 2002Sierra LeoneDEATH PENALTY
Murder, aggravated robbery and treason are capital crimes
Murder, aggravated robbery and treason are capital crimes
- JANUARY 1, 2002Sierra LeoneDEATH PENALTY
On October 19, 1998, a firing squad publicly carried...
On October 19, 1998, a firing squad publicly carried out the death sentence on 24 soldiers of the 34 convicted of treason
- JANUARY 1, 2002Sierra LeoneDEATH PENALTY
Sierra Leone's campaign against the death penalty started...
Sierra Leone's campaign against the death penalty started with a campaign spearheaded by Amnesty International following the 1989 killings by the then All People's Congress (APC) regime
- JANUARY 1, 2002Sierra LeoneDEATH PENALTY
Sierra Leone officially adopted the death penalty in...
Sierra Leone officially adopted the death penalty in 1991 as enshrined in section 16 (1) of that year's Constitution, and since then successive regimes have carried out state instituted killings, the most recent being the execution by firing squad of 24
- JANUARY 1, 2001Sierra LeoneDEATH PENALTY
On October 19, 1998, a firing squad publicly carried...
On October 19, 1998, a firing squad publicly carried out the death sentence on 24 soldiers of the 34 convicted of treason
- JANUARY 1, 2001Sierra LeoneDEATH PENALTY
Murder, aggravated robbery and treason are capital crimes
Murder, aggravated robbery and treason are capital crimes
- OCTOBER 5, 2000Sierra LeoneDEATH PENALTY
At the request of the Sierra Leonean government, the...
At the request of the Sierra Leonean government, the United Nation's Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution on August 14, 2000 to set up a special court for Sierra Leone
- AUGUST 14, 2000Sierra LeoneDEATH PENALTY
The UN Security Council decided to set up a war crimes...
The UN Security Council decided to set up a war crimes tribunal to try Foday Sankoh, leader of Sierra Leone's murderous Revolutionary United Front (RUF), and his lieutenants
- JUNE 22, 2000Sierra LeoneDEATH PENALTY
Amnesty International called on the government to take...
Amnesty International called on the government to take steps to protect the civilian population from further atrocities
- JUNE 21, 2000Sierra LeoneDEATH PENALTY
The government of Sierra Leone asked the United Nations...
The government of Sierra Leone asked the United Nations Security Council to set up a special court to try rebel leader Foday Sankoh, saying the country lacked the resources to try crimes of such magnitude
- JUNE 16, 2000Sierra LeoneDEATH PENALTY
Sierra Leone's permanent representative to the UN,...
Sierra Leone's permanent representative to the UN, Ambassador Ibrahim Kamara, said the court would probably combine elements of Sierra Leonean and international law, and might be based in another country in the region, such as Nigeria, Mali or Senegal
- JUNE 4, 2000Sierra LeoneDEATH PENALTY
The UN mission in Sierra Leone launched an investigation...
The UN mission in Sierra Leone launched an investigation into human rights abuses by fighting forces, an official of the mission said