VISIT TO DJIBOUTI'S PRISON SHOWS IMPROVING CONDITIONS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DJIBOUTI 000753

DEPARTMENT FOR AF/E AND DRL
LONDON, PARIS, ROME FOR AFRICA WATCHER

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM CASC SOCI DJ
SUBJECT: VISIT TO DJIBOUTI'S PRISON SHOWS IMPROVING CONDITIONS


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: During a September 10 visit to Djibouti's prison,
EmbOffs noted substantial improvements in conditions. While there
were some persistent shortcomings--such as unsatisfactory sanitary
conditions in the prison kitchen--EmbOffs noted that minors, women,
and pre-trial detainees were held separately, and that there were
appropriate separate accommodations for prisoners with communicable
diseases. EmbOffs toured a new facility for a better-educated,
dedicated prison guard force, slated to replace the current National
Police personnel this month. There were no AmCit prisoners. END
SUMMARY.


2. (U) PolOff, ConOff, and PolAsst visited Gabode Prison on
September 10. The visit had been requested via diplomatic note, and
was granted quickly, within the requested time frame. Prisons
Director Saleh Djama and interim Gabode Prison Director Osman Harad
Gadad accompanied EmbOffs on the prison tour, which included almost
all prison buildings. Although EmbOffs did not visit every prison
area, they were shown each facility they requested to see. Gabode
Prison is Djibouti's only prison, save for small temporary holding
facilities in outlying towns.

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PRISONER COUNT
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3. (U) Prison officials provided EmbOffs with a copy of the daily
prisoner accounting records for September 10. According to those
data, there were currently 434 prisoners, including 3 juveniles and
21 women. About 60 percent of the prisoners had already been
convicted, while 40 percent were awaiting trail. The majority of
prisoners--approximately 60 percent--were Djiboutians. There were
also sizeable populations of Ethiopian (about 20 percent) and Somali
(about 14 percent) nationals. There were no AmCit prisoners.
Prison officials said that there were approximately 19
administrative staff, and 50 National Police guards working at the
prison.

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FACILITIES: BASIC BUT GENERALLY ADEQUATE
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4. (SBU) EmbOffs visited a majority of prisoner accommodations,
including facilities for men, women, and minors. There were three
male minors, held together in separate quarters. Women were also
held separately, although prison officials noted that convicted
women and female pretrial detainees were held together. Although
there were no children present in the women's quarters, prison
officials said that small babies would be allowed to stay with their
mothers. EmbOffs were shown separate facilities for convicted male
prisoners, and male prisoners awaiting trial. EmbOffs were also
shown one separate individual cell reserved for a high-profile
prisoner. The remaining prisoners were held in large communal cell
houses, each holding approximately forty prisoners. Each building
had adequate light and ventilation, access to water faucets, and two
toilets. Prisoners had bedding on the floor in rows, with personal
belongings hung on the walls. While the cells were full to
capacity, they did not appear overcrowded. EmbOffs observed
prisoners sleeping, resting, talking, and playing chess. Prisoners
had access to a mosque, although not--as the Prisons Director
acknowledged--a church.

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THREE SQUARES A DAY
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5. (SBU) According to prison officials, prisoners were fed three
times a day--including during the fasting month of Ramadan, for the
benefit of Christian prisoners. EmbOffs were shown the kitchen
facilities, where meat was being prepared for the midday meal.
Sanitary conditions were somewhat improved from past visits, but
still rudimentary. Meat was being prepared on unsanitary surfaces,
and was covered with flies. Prison officials showcased cooking
equipment that they said was provided by the International Committee
of the Red Cross (ICRC),although they said that due to problems
with supplying oil to the stoves, they were now using wood fuel.
Prison officials said that ICRC visited Gabode Prison regularly--at
least twice a year and sometimes three times.

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HEALTH
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6. (SBU) EmbOffs visited prison infirmary rooms, and spoke with the
prison's full-time nurse. According to the nurse, while he had
plenty of medications, there were sometimes gaps in supplying the
prison with twice-weekly visits from a doctor. He reported that the
Ministry of Health had recently assigned a new prison doctor, four
months after the last one left. The nurse said that he was the one
who responded to after-hours emergencies, and transferred prisoners

DJIBOUTI 00000753 002 OF 002


to the hospital if necessary. When asked if the current level of
care was adequate, the nurse said that he would prefer a full-time
doctor who could provide more consistent follow-up care. He also
reported that there was no proper storage facility for medications.


7. (SBU) EmbOffs saw two rooms for sick male prisoners: one solely
for tuberculosis (TB) patients, and another for prisoners with other
health problems, such as asthma. According to the nurse, there were
currently thirteen TB patients, and at the time, no HIV/AIDS
patients. Both holding areas for sick prisoners appeared to have
adequate light and ventilation, and EmbOffs were shown TB treatment
cards and medication. EmbOffs were also shown one female prisoner
held in separate quarters, and told that she was both a TB patient
and mentally ill.

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NEW GUARD SERVICE
--------------


8. (SBU) Prison officials said they were pleased with improved
budgets, and reported that they were currently receiving 25 million
DJF annually (approximately USD 142,000). EmbOffs toured a large
and attractive new facility adjacent to the prison, built to house
barracks and offices for a new dedicated prison guard force.
Prisons Director Saleh said that the new guard force would start
training this month, and would eventually replace the current
National Police staffing. Saleh said that the new force would be
better trained and educated than the National Police. While the
Ministry of the Interior administers the National Police, the new
guard force will be under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of
Justice, which has responsibility for the penal system. All planned
102 new hires would be required to have a high school degree, Saleh
said, and some recruits who had already been hired even had two
years of college.


9. (SBU) COMMENT: Despite some remaining shortcomings, Djibouti's
prison facilities are generally very basic, but adequate and
improving. The establishment of a new, more professionalized guard
force will likely bring further improvement. Moreover, the GODJ's
willingness to grant EmbOffs quick and comprehensive access sends a
strong signal that Djibouti is open to international scrutiny of
their prison system--and perhaps to international assistance in
improving it. END COMMENT.

WONG