Guinea's Justice Minister, Ibrahima Sory 2 Tounkara, recently visited Kankan to assess the challenges faced by the local judiciary. During his visit, he met with judicial actors and discussed the difficulties in the functioning of the courts, including a shortage of personnel and delays in processing cases. The minister emphasized the need for magistrates to be more proactive in handling cases. He also inspected the local prison, Tribunal de première instance (TPI), and Court of Appeal.
According to the First President of the Kankan Court of Appeal, Simon Pierre Lamah, the court has judged 238 cases out of 379 received since the beginning of 2026. The court has a 100 kVA generator and holds weekly criminal hearings. However, Lamah expressed concerns about the insufficient number of correctional chambers and the shortage of court clerks. The court has only five clerks for 15 magistrates, which Lamah believes is contrary to legal provisions.
Minister Tounkara announced plans to establish three new courts of appeal in N'Zérékoré, Labé, and a commercial court of appeal. The goal is to bring justice closer to the people and reduce the backlog of cases. He urged magistrates to regularly schedule criminal hearings to avoid delays and warned that sanctions would be imposed on those who fail to perform their duties properly.
The Kankan Court of Appeal faces several challenges, including the abandonment of cases by litigants due to the distance and financial constraints. The high cost of judicial transportation and unauthorized absences of some judicial officials are also major concerns. Minister Tounkara emphasized that the Court of Appeal should not be a "cemetery for procedures" and encouraged magistrates to be diligent in processing cases.
During his visit, Minister Tounkara also interacted with the local bar association and discussed ways to improve the working conditions of judicial actors. He reaffirmed the government's commitment to addressing the challenges faced by the judiciary. The minister's visit aimed to assess the situation and find solutions to the problems affecting the delivery of justice in Kankan.
The establishment of new courts of appeal is part of the government's efforts to reform the judicial system and improve access to justice. Minister Tounkara emphasized that the government will no longer hesitate to sanction magistrates who fail to perform their duties. He encouraged magistrates to work efficiently and effectively to reduce the backlog of cases.
The visit by Minister Tounkara is part of the government's efforts to engage with the judiciary and address the challenges faced by the sector. The minister's call for magistrates to accelerate case processing and his warning of sanctions against those who fail to perform their duties reflect the government's commitment to improving the delivery of justice in Guinea.
Key points
- The Guinea government plans to establish three new courts of appeal to improve access to justice.
- The Kankan Court of Appeal has judged 238 cases out of 379 received since the beginning of 2026.
- Minister Tounkara warned that sanctions would be imposed on magistrates who fail to perform their duties properly.
