Cameroon sentences 89 terrorists to death

Cameroon has sentenced 89 members of terrorist sect,Boko Haram to death, reports say.

The insurgents were convicted by a military court for participating in a series of terrorist attacks in Cameroon's northern region, according to BBC.

The convicts are said to be among the 850 people being detained over their alleged involvement in the Boko Haram insurgency.

In December 2014, Cameroon adopted a controversial anti-terrorism law, which permits the death penalty as a sentence for perpetrators or accomplices of terrorist acts.

Boko Haram members were also recently sentenced to death, and executed, in Chad over their alleged participation in terrorism.

The country broke a 12-year moratorium on the death penalty on August 29, 2015 after it executed 10 men, who were found guilty of participating in suicide attacks in N’djamena.

The executions were condemned by the United Nations due to the speed with which they were carried out.

UN Spokeswoman, Cecile Pouilly stated that the 10 men were executed by firing squad only one day after they were sentenced to death under the new anti-terrorism law.

“According to the information that we collected, the… timing of the trial was reduced from eight to two days and it was relocated for security reasons.  We do not have information whether they had access to lawyers, whether they were able to appeal against their death sentence," Pouilly said.

“We had welcomed the decision to adopt a new penal code that was abolishing the death penalty.  So, it is really a big step backward.  It is a big disappointment for us,” She added.

The UN agency also called on Chad to review its anti-terrorism law which it says contains a very vague definition of terrorism, which may not be legal internationally, and potentially could put many people at risk of execution.