In Guinea, President Mamadi Doumbouya announced a blanket remission of sentences for 217 inmates on Friday 2 October, the day of the country’s national holiday.
The decree, issued by the president’s office, saw all 217 detainees released from prison without the need for further legal proceedings. No details were given about the categories of offences or the locations of the prisons involved.
President Doumbouya, who seized power in a 2021 coup, has used the holiday to highlight his administration’s commitment to reform and to address the country’s overcrowded prison system.
Guinea, a West African nation, has faced criticism in recent years for its prison conditions and the treatment of political prisoners. The mass release marks a significant move in the country’s ongoing efforts to overhaul its penal system.
While the announcement was welcomed by human rights observers, officials have not yet clarified whether the release includes political detainees or if any further amnesty measures will follow.
<small>Source: Actu Cameroun — read the original story there.</small>
