Saint-Louis, Senegal – The Saint-Louis Detention and Correctional Center (MAC) is the most overcrowded prison in Senegal after Rebeuss in Dakar, housing more than 700 inmates . This observation was made by the Minister of Justice, Keeper of the Seals, Yassine Fall , during a working visit to the historic city on Friday.

A visit focused on detention conditions

The minister explained the purpose of her visit to the Saint-Louis prison: “We came here to the Saint-Louis prison to inquire about the conditions of detention but also to listen to the people in custody .” She confirmed the critical situation at the facility: “The Saint-Louis prison has the second-highest number of inmates after Rebeuss, with over 700 people in detention.”

Exchanges with the authorities and judicial staff

Yassine Fall's visit began at the Palace of Justice shortly after 5 p.m., where she was received by Governor Al Hassan Sall and the judicial authorities of the region.

1. Institutional meetings: The minister held several meetings at the High Court with the prosecutor's office, the judges, and the president of the Court of Appeal of Saint-Louis.
2. Meeting with staff: Discussions also took place with the staff of the Palace of Justice, addressing the topics of working conditions , conditions of detainees and judicial infrastructure .

Concern for minors

At the end of her visit to the MAC, the Minister of Justice expressed deep emotion towards the prison population: "We met many young people who are in detention and elderly people. But what breaks our hearts is seeing minors in detention ," she declared.

She finally wanted to acknowledge the commitment of the prison staff, thanking "the entire prison team who are taking care of the people in detention."

Note: The Saint-Louis Detention and Correctional Facility, located in the northern part of the island, is a historic establishment whose construction dates back to 1863 .