Gabon's SOS Prisonniers denounces stalled criminal trials and overcrowded prisons, urges government action

SOS Prisonniers Gabon SPG has formally alerted the Minister of Justice, Keeper of the Seals, in charge of Human Rights, regarding the absence of ordinary criminal sessions since the start of the 2025-2026 judicial year. The organization is concerned that this situation deprives many detainees of their right to a trial within a reasonable timeframe, highlighting insufficient funding allocated to courts for organizing these hearings. SPG notes that no ordinary criminal sessions appear to have been held nationwide since the judicial year began in October 2025, despite the Gabonese Code of Criminal Procedure requiring a criminal court session every three months. Nearly nine months into the judicial year, with only one quarter remaining, no ordinary criminal trials have been scheduled. The NGO attributes these delays to insufficient funding for the courts, a justification it deems unacceptable given the impact on detainees' fundamental rights. SPG emphasizes that this situation also reveals structural difficulties within the judicial system, including a lack of human, material, and financial resources. The organization is particularly concerned about the repercussions on the prison population, stating that over 70% of detainees in Gabon are awaiting trial, some having been in preventive detention for several years. SPG argues that this undermines the principle of presumption of innocence and exacerbates prison overcrowding. The organization urges authorities to mobilize necessary