Senegalese Justice Minister Sidiki Kaba gave a mid-term review of an operation to secure detention facilities across Senegal.[1] Searches of detainees’ cells found bladed weapons, mobile phones and cannabis, called chanvre indien in the source.[1] The investigation findings he cited said detainees held nearly 250 mobile phones along with cannabis.[1] Bladed weapons were seized especially in remand and correctional facilities in the Dakar region.[1]

Kaba called the findings unacceptable and promised to remedy them.[1] He said the new authorities launched the security drive after learning of practices that endangered some detainees.[1] He described detention conditions as deplorable and said authorities were accelerating the sale of Rebeuss prison for transfer to Sébikotane, 40 km from Dakar.[1] He said any act harming human dignity must stop in prisons.[1]

He linked the push to bring prisons up to international standards to an inquiry into alleged mistreatment of detainees at the Camp pénal de Liberté 6 in Dakar.[1] Senegalese rights groups had separately reported alleged harassment, abuse and violence against people held at Liberté 6.[1]