Justice Minister Cautions Against Overcrowding Prisons with Pre-trial Detainees

The Minister of Justice, and Keeper of the Seals, Laurent Esso, has cautioned Procureurs General, State Counsels, and judges to desist from unnecessarily detaining suspects.

According to him, detention should be a last resort. He was speaking at the opening of the 2024 annual meeting of Heads of Courts of Appeal and Regional Delegates of Penitentiary Administration currently taking place in Yaoundé.

Mr. Esso emphasised that remand in custody, though legally justified, is depriving thousands of their liberty and worsening conditions in already overcrowded penitentiary facilities.

He called for urgent reforms in the use of pre-trial detention, citing its significant contribution to prison overcrowding in Cameroon.

“While remand is intended to preserve public order and ensure justice, its excessive use results in social, psychological, and economic harm to detainees and stretches the capacity of our prisons,” Mr. Esso stated.

He urged judicial officers to reserve detention only for serious cases where it is absolutely necessary.

Alarming Figures on Pre-trial Detentions

He revealed that out of nearly 9,500 detainees in the Centre Region as of the second quarter of 2024, approximately 4,200 are awaiting trial.

In addition to addressing the remand issue, Mr. Esso highlighted the government’s efforts to rehabilitate prisoners through education.

He pointed out that between 2019 and 2023, over 1,400 detainees had received informal education in Cameroon’s prisons, with 174 of them earning diplomas.

These efforts are part of a broader strategy to prepare detainees for reintegration into society upon release.

The Justice Minister acknowledged the structural limitations of the penitentiary system, built during the colonial era.

He stressed that the government is working on expanding prison infrastructure but noted that acquiring land and financing new facilities remain major challenges.

The meeting, to run from October 24 to 25, is taking place at the Ministry of Justice. Senior judges, including the President of the Constitutional Council and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, attend it.

The meeting further focused on two key topics: “Remand in Custody” and “Education in Prisons.” However, the aim is to find sustainable solutions to the pressing issues in Cameroon’s justice and penitentiary systems.

Mimi Mefo Info