Information, topic by topic, on prisons across the world

October 19, 2022

DRC: psychologically, I am no longer human’ – life after 20 years on death row

News

Africa Death penalty Congo - Kinshasa

On January 16, 2001, the Democratic Republic of Congo President Laurent-Désiré Kabila was murdered. Under pressure to find the culprits, the police arrested members of his personal guard. Lieutenant Richard Yav was among them. Richard was tortured and sentenced to death for a crime he never committ…

October 14, 2022

DRC: "psychologically, I am no longer human’ – life after 20 years on death row"

News

Africa Death penalty Torture Congo - Kinshasa

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: French

October 14, 2022

DRC: a moratorium on the death penalty is just a stepping stone

Opinion

Africa Death penalty Torture Congo - Kinshasa

The World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) has written an opinion piece on the limits of moratoriums and the suffering inflicted on people sentenced to death. We reproduce it here.

September 30, 2022

Congo : conditions de vie terribles dans la prison de Mbujimayl

News

Africa Material conditions Overcrowding Congo - Kinshasa

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: French

September 22, 2022

Côte d'Ivoire: the price of freedom

Testimonial

Africa Justice Material conditions Social ties Côte d’Ivoire

David D. was imprisoned in the Abidjan prison (MACA) for 29 months, and he is still awaiting trial. This is a testimony of an arbitrary detention, amidst uncertainty and corruption.

September 21, 2022

Kenya: why has the country not abolished the death penalty?

News

Africa Death penalty Kenya

In recent months two African states have announced their intentions to abolish the death penalty Zambia and the Central African Republic.

September 21, 2022

Guinée équatoriale : la peine de mort abolie

News

Africa Death penalty Equatorial Guinea

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: French

September 5, 2022

Nigeria: prison inmates may vote in 2023

News

Africa Justice Nigeria

The Independent National Electoral Commission, on Tuesday, expressed optimism that inmates in Nigeria Correctional Centres might vote during the 2023 general election.

September 5, 2022

Maroc : l'OMP alerte sur la situation alarmante au sein des prisons

News

Africa Material conditions Morocco

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: French

September 5, 2022

Congo : des activistes s'insurgent contre le traitement des prisonniers au Nord-Kivu

News

Africa Material conditions Congo - Kinshasa

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: French

July 19, 2022

Liberia: Senate votes to abolish death penalty

News

Africa Death penalty Liberia

The plenary of the Liberian Senate with a unanimous vote of 17, yesterday passed a portion of the penal code to abolish the death penalty and other capital offenses. The committee on Judiciary recommended passage of the bill for the Legislature to remove the provisions of the death penalty. In 2005…

July 19, 2022

Sénégal : le décès en détention de François Mancabou génère une vague d’indignation.

News

Africa Violence Senegal

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: French

July 13, 2022

Guinea: child victims of “punitive justice”

Interview

Africa Minors Access to legal rights Justice Guinea

Nordine Drici is a historian and legal expert on prisoners’ rights. He wrote an overview of the penitentiary situation in Guinea, examining access to justice in the country. This expert evaluation formed part of a training programme (under the RESPECT project) that he provided for Lawyers Without B…

July 12, 2022

Nigeria: cientos de yihadistas liberan a más de 800 presos en el asalto a una cárcel

News

Africa Violence Nigeria

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: Spanish

July 11, 2022

Africa: the threat of punishment

Interview

Africa Justice Alternatives Rehabilitation

The prison and criminal justice systems established on the African continent during the colonisation raise many questions.The book « L’Afrique en prisons » proposes to distinguish and rethink a coercive system based on the threat of punishment. Interview.

June 3, 2022

Algeria: seeing things from the other side

Testimonial

Africa Access to legal rights Justice Torture Violence Rehabilitation Algeria

Rachid M. was imprisoned in Algeria from 1996 to 1999. After previously discussing the conditions in prison and what Ramadan is like there, he now talks about his release and his human rights activism.

May 31, 2022

Maroc : L'OMP organise une formation à l’attention des fonctionnaires des établissements pénitentiaires à Meknès

News

Africa Morocco

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: French

May 31, 2022

Guinée : Décès de prisonniers à Coyah, l'autopsie révèle qu'ils ne recevaient plus d'air

News

Africa Material conditions Guinea

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: French

May 31, 2022

Nigeria: "even hungry dogs’ll reject our meals"

News

Africa Material conditions Nigeria

When the increase was officially announced by the Nigerian Customs Service comptroller (NCS), most inmates in prisons across the country rejoiced, believing that their daily food ration would automatically increase. Seven months later, Encounter’s investigation revealed that inmates’ food rations r…

May 31, 2022

Guinée : À N'Zérékoré, le ministre de la justice s'indigne face aux mauvaises conditions de la prison

News

Africa Material conditions Guinea

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: French

May 31, 2022

Sénégal : Blocage des visites carcérales

News

Africa Social ties Senegal

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: French

May 19, 2022

South Sudan : Islamic Council, Somali community release 7 inmates from Juba Prison

News

Africa Justice South Sudan

The inmates are said to have been jailed for petty crimes including failure to pay debts and court fines. Their release was concluded during Eid-el Fitr celebrations.

May 19, 2022

Nigeria : Kano: Ganduje pardons 90 prisons inmates

News

Africa Justice Nigeria

The Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has approved the freedom of ninety prison inmates across correctional centres in the state.

May 18, 2022

Burkina Faso : Un mort et au moins 60 prisonniers libérés dans l'attaque d'une prison

News

Africa Violence Burkina Faso

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: French