Cabral Libii urges gradual death penalty abolition in Cameroon at global congress

Speaking at the 9th World Congress against the death penalty in Paris, the Cameroonian lawmaker makes a case for a step-by-step move away from capital punishment in his home country.

According to Cabral Libii, a truly democratic society is one that manages to balance the protection of life, the demands of justice, the safety of citizens, and respect for the rule of law. He says the challenge is not just to abolish the death penalty, but also to build institutions strong enough that justice can inspire trust without needing to resort to irreversible measures.

“We are honoured to be among the officials, parliamentarians and ministers of justice from more than 130 nationalities taking part in this world congress against capital punishment,” Libii said.

Cameroon has not yet abolished the death penalty, but it has carried out no executions since 1997. That makes it what can be called a de facto abolitionist state. This observation inspired the reflections we shared at the 9th World Congress, he explained.

He outlined several key arguments in favour of gradual abolition:

1. Protecting life as a fundamental value. Two-thirds of countries worldwide are moving toward reduced use of the death penalty, a trend worth welcoming. Taking a life to prove that killing is wrong undermines repentance, removes the weight of guilt and lasting remorse, and prevents any possibility of correcting a judicial error.

2. Respecting each country’s context. Every state has its own historical, cultural and security conditions. Lasting abolition can only come from an internal democratic process, driven by national institutions and accepted by society. That is why public awareness and education are essential, with lawmakers and civil society playing a crucial role.

3. Cameroon’s de facto moratorium. Although the death penalty remains on the books, Cameroon has observed an almost thirty-year pause on executions. This practice signals a positive evolution that deserves recognition.

4. Justice quality over severity. The fight against crime depends mainly on the quality of the justice system. The real response to the most serious offences lies in independent, impartial, effective justice that respects fundamental rights, more than in the harshness of sentences alone. That is the premise and the direction of his personal fight in Cameroon.

5. Adapting global standards. The advancement of fundamental rights follows a global trend in democratic societies, but these standards must be implemented while taking national realities into account. This preserves legitimacy and speeds up progress.

In the end, Libii argues, the debate on the death penalty should not pit human rights defenders against those who prioritise security or judicial rigidity. A truly democratic society is one that can reconcile life protection, justice demands, citizen safety, and rule-of-law respect. The challenge is both to abolish capital punishment and to build robust institutions so that justice earns confidence without needing the irreversible.