JOHANNESBURG: Amnesty International says it has credible reports that the West African nation of Gambia has executed nine convicted criminals and that more death-row inmates are under imminent threat.
Eight men and one woman were removed from their prison cells Friday night and executed, according to Amnesty.
Gambia’s information minister was not immediately available to confirm the report.
Amnesty said the executions are the first in Gambia since 1987. Gambia reinstated the death penalty in 1995 but had not executed anyone.
Gambia’s President Yaya Jammeh vowed earlier this month to execute all the country’s inmates who had been sentenced to death as part of efforts to dissuade people from committing “heinous crimes” and to curb a rising crime rate.
Amnesty said there were 47 inmates on death row.
Gambia executes nine, more threatened: AI
Gambia executes nine, more threatened: AI
UK secures migrant return deal with Angola, Namibia; DRC faces visa curbs
LONDON: Angola and Namibia have agreed to accept the return of illegal migrants and criminals after the British government threatened visa penalties for countries refusing to cooperate, the UK Home Office said late on Saturday.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has been stripped of fast-track visa services and preferential treatment for VIPs and decision-makers after failing to meet Britain’s requirements to improve cooperation, the Home Office said.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said Britain could escalate measures to a complete halting of visas for the DRC unless “co-operation rapidly improves.”
“We expect countries to play by the rules. If one of their citizens has no right to be here, they must take them back,” the Home Secretary added.
The agreements mark the first major change under reforms announced last month to make refugee status temporary and speed up the deportation of those who arrive illegally in Britain.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the UK has “removed more than 50,000 people with no right to remain” since July last year, a 23 percent increase on the previous period, and instructed diplomats to make returns a top priority.
