Title: The hunger strike of prisoners in Casamance: a cry of distress in the face of prolonged preventive detention
Introduction:
Hunger strikes are often used as a last resort to draw attention to an unjust or desperate situation. This is exactly what 180 prisoners are currently experiencing in Casamance, in southern Senegal. Detained for several months without having been brought before the courts, they decided to take action by starting a hunger strike to denounce their situation. This display of desperation highlights ongoing problems with prolonged pre-trial detention and a slow justice system.
Miners among the strikers:
Among the 180 prisoners on hunger strike, there are also four minors aged 15 to 17. These young people were arrested last June following demonstrations which broke out after the conviction of political opponent Ousmane Sonko. Their families are demanding their immediate release so that they can resume their schooling. This situation highlights the urgent need for reform of the judicial system to guarantee respect for the rights of minors and their access to education.
Prolonged preventive detention and judicial traffic jam:
The other 150 prisoners on hunger strike are common law prisoners. All denounce extremely long periods of preventive detention, some having been incarcerated for more than four months without having been heard on the merits of their case. The lack of human resources and judicial infrastructure in Casamance is at the origin of this judicial traffic jam, leading to delayed justice and excessive pretrial detention periods. It is urgent to put in place measures to speed up legal procedures and avoid prolonged deprivation of liberty without trial.
The strikers’ demands:
The prisoners on hunger strike demand above all to be heard on the merits of their case. They also demand the appointment of a second investigating judge in Ziguinchor, in order to relieve congestion in the judicial system and speed up procedures. Finally, they denounce the poor quality of food in prison as well as the high cost of telephone communications. Their demands highlight the difficult conditions of detention and the breaches of the fundamental rights of detainees in Senegal.
Conclusion:
The hunger strike of prisoners in Casamance is a cry of distress in the face of prolonged preventive detention and the slowness of the judicial system in Senegal. It underlines the urgency of making reforms to guarantee rapid and fair justice, as well as respect for the fundamental rights of detainees. It is essential to speed up legal procedures, appoint more investigating judges and improve detention conditions. Only these measures will make it possible to guarantee fair justice that respects the rights of everyone.