Capital punishment in Eswatini
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Capital punishment is a legal penalty in Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland. Despite its legality, no executions have been carried out since 1983. Therefore, Eswatini is classified as "abolitionist in practice."[1]
No new death sentences were recorded in 2021. One person was known to be on death row in Eswatini at the end of 2021.[2][3]
Eswatini's only official method of execution is hanging, a method for that almost all former British colonies and protectorates adopted.[3][4]
Eswatini is not a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; likewise, they are also not a party to the Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR, which specifically pertains to the abolition of capital punishment. Eswatini voted against the United Nations moratorium on the death penalty proposed in 2010.[3]
The death penalty is not a mandatory punishment for any crime in Eswatini.[3] Under Eswatini's law, the King presides over the judiciary, executive, and legislative branches of government. The King retains the final authority over when executions will take place.[5] Eswatini's current King, Mswati III, was officially crowned in 1986 and has not permitted any executions under his rule.[6]