On October 6, 2026, Guinean Justice Minister Ibrahima Sory II Tounkara led a delegation to Siguiri, a city in the Mandén Tamban region, to assess the local judicial system and prison conditions. The delegation included members of his cabinet, advisors, and national directors. Upon arrival, Tounkara was greeted by local authorities, including the prosecutor and president of the Siguiri tribunal, as well as prefectural and communal officials.
During his visit, Tounkara met with local moral authorities, including the Sotikèmo of Siguiri, and representatives of the five local clans. He also visited the Siguiri prison to inspect detention conditions for men, women, and children. The minister gave instructions to the prison warden on improving detention conditions. Tounkara's visit aimed to evaluate the local judicial system's performance and address any challenges.
Tounkara held a working session with the tribunal's president, prosecutor, and staff. He explained that his mission was instructed by President of the Republic and aimed to assess the tribunal's functioning, prison conditions, and judicial processes. The minister acknowledged the challenges faced by local judicial officials and emphasized the need for change.
Tounkara specifically addressed the issue of judicial fees, instructing the tribunal's president, prosecutor, and head of the registry to ensure their proper application and display within the tribunal. He noted that some fees were arbitrarily fixed, and their display would promote transparency. The minister's instructions aimed to improve the efficiency and transparency of judicial processes.
The minister also called on the prosecutor to strengthen oversight of judicial police officers' work, citing concerns about citizens being detained for extended periods without due process. He urged the prosecutor to conduct unannounced inspections to ensure compliance with the law. Tounkara emphasized the importance of expediting case hearings to avoid delays in processing dossiers.
Tounkara addressed the registry, reiterating the need to display fees for judicial documents and avoid overcharging, which might prevent some individuals from obtaining their documents. He instructed the registry to take measures to make judicial services more accessible. The minister's visit aimed to bring about improvements in the local judicial system.
The delegation concluded its visit to Siguiri and proceeded to Kankan, where a new stage of the mission is planned within the jurisdiction of the Kankan Court of Appeal. The visit demonstrated the government's commitment to enhancing judicial governance and improving detention conditions in Guinea.
Key points
- The Guinean Justice Minister Ibrahima Sory II Tounkara visited Siguiri to assess judicial governance and prison conditions.
- Tounkara instructed local officials to ensure the proper application and display of judicial fees.
- The minister emphasized the need to expedite case hearings and strengthen oversight of judicial police officers' work.
