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UN Experts Report Severe Prison Overcrowding In Gabon

RFI Afrique Libreville 13d13d Impact 5

The United Nations Committee Against Torture is reviewing the situation in Gabon during its 84th session ending this Friday. Aisha Claudine Sumbou, president of the Reconciliation Association, testified in Geneva regarding detention conditions in Gabon. Reports include beatings, extrajudicial detention, and extortion of confessions. Civil society groups and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) noted that access to justice remains difficult in Gabon. She stated there is an urgent need to repair the harms committed and apply ratified treaties. The testimony addressed the ongoing issue of arbitrary detentions within the country. Zonusi experts reported that the central prison in Libreville is experiencing overcrowding rates between 400% and 700%. Some detainees have been waiting for their trials for 10 to 12 years.

The United Nations Committee Against Torture is reviewing the situation in Gabon during its 84th session ending this Friday. Aisha Claudine Sumbou, president of the Reconciliation Association, testified in Geneva regarding detention conditions in Gabon. Reports include beatings, extrajudicial detention, and extortion of confessions. Civil society groups and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) noted that access to justice remains difficult in Gabon. She stated there is an urgent need to repair the harms committed and apply ratified treaties. The testimony addressed the ongoing issue of arbitrary detentions within the country. Zonusi experts reported that the central prison in Libreville is experiencing overcrowding rates between 400% and 700%. Some detainees have been waiting for their trials for 10 to 12 years. Experts also noted widespread impunity and the existence of unofficial detention sites, such as the Direction générale des Contre-ingérences et de la Sécurité militaire, known as B2, in Libreville. Experts at a UN Committee Against Torture session reported that prison overcrowding in Gabon's Libreville Central Prison has reached levels between 400% and 700%. The report highlighted that detainees are facing torture and some have lost their lives despite Gabon having signed and ratified relevant international treaties. Gabonese authorities have insisted on their own perspective regarding these findings.

Topics

human rights prison conditions UN

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Sources · 7 independent

RFI Afrique

“l'Organisation mondiale contre la torture a publié un rapport sur la situation dans les prisons du pays ainsi que sur les violences commises par les services de sécurité”

RFI Monde

“la situation dans les prisons du pays, ainsi que les violences commises par les services de sécurité, les arrestations arbitraires et détention hors procédure, des pratiques qui perdurent malgré le changement de régime en août 2023”

RFI Monde

“Passage à tabac, détention hors procédure, extorsion d'aveux. Pour la société civile gabonaise et l'OMCT, l'accès à la justice demeure difficile au Gabon.”

RFI Monde

“Aisha Claudine Sumbou, was present in Geneva to testify. These arbitrary arrests. Today we are experiencing them more and more so there is a real urgency to repair the wrongs that have been committed, to apply these texts.”

RFI Monde

“les experts zonusiens ont rappelé la surpopulation carcérale entre 400 et 700% à la prison centrale de Libreville où certains détenus attendent leur procès depuis 10 à 12 ans.”

RFI Monde

“Libreville où certains détenus attendent leur procès depuis 10 à 12 ans.”

RFI Afrique

“les experts zonusiens ont rappelé la surpopulation carcérale entre 400 et 700% à la prison centrale de Libreville, où certains détenus attendent leur procès depuis 10 à 12 ans.”

RFI Monde

“L'OMCT, l'Organisation mondiale contre la torture a publié un rapport sur la situation dans les prisons au Gabon, ainsi que sur les violences commises par les services de sécurité.”

RFI Afrique

“the experts reminded that prison overcrowding is between 400 and 700% at the central prison of Libreville where some detainees have been waiting for their trial for 10 years.”

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