Criminal
Code pénal with the death penalty abolished in 2015
The Code pénal, French in origin and amended nationally, contains the principal offences. Madagascar abolished the death penalty by Loi 2014-035, promulgated in early 2015, having not carried out an execution since 1958. Anti-trafficking and cattle-rustling (dahalo) offences carry heavy penalties.
Key rules
- Jurisdiction — Tribunaux de Première Instance and Cours d'Appel try offences; the Cour de cassation reviews on law.
- Deadline — Garde à vue limited by the Code de procédure pénale, with judicial review
Governing law
- Code pénal malgache
- Loi 2014-035 portant abolition de la peine de mort
- Loi 2014-040 sur la lutte contre la traite des êtres humains
In practice
Abolition in 2015 was a formal step confirming a long de facto moratorium. In practice, the most consequential criminal-justice issue is prolonged pre-trial detention, which affects a majority of the prison population.