The Delegation of the European Union issues the following statement in agreement with the EU Heads of Mission and the Heads of Mission of Norway and United Kingdom.

The European Union is deeply saddened by the news of the execution of 6 convicted detainees in Mandera prison, Somaliland, on 26 November 2020.  

The European Union holds a principled position against the death penalty and is opposed to the use of capital punishment under any circumstances. No compelling evidence exists to show that the death penalty serves as a deterrent to crime, in more effective than imprisonment. Furthermore, any errors –inevitable in any legal system – are irreversible.

Over the last fifty years, more than two thirds of the countries in the world became abolitionist in law and practice. The EU will continue supporting the universal trend towards the eradication of the death penalty.