Chad: Whether there is a maximum security detention centre for political prisoners near the town of Abéché; if so, its official name and whether detainees have escaped from that prison since 1990
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 September 1998 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | TCD29949.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Chad: Whether there is a maximum security detention centre for political prisoners near the town of Abéché; if so, its official name and whether detainees have escaped from that prison since 1990, 1 September 1998, TCD29949.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6aad75f.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
A Paris-based Amnesty International representative who specializes on Chad stated during a 9 September 1998 telephone interview that although he knew of the existence of a detention centre near the Chadian town of Abéché, he did not know much about it. He further stated that Chadian prisons do not make any distinction between ordinary prisoners and those detained for political reasons, and that prisoners in the latter category could be held incommunicado in any prison in Chad. There were some prison escapes in the past, mostly due to bribes paid to prison officials or guards. No names were provided.
The representative of Tchad-Solidarités-France who was referred to the Research Directorate by a professor at the African Studies Centre in Leiden, The Netherlands, stated during a 22 September 1998 telephone interview that there was a prison in the town of Abéché and that it would be possible that political prisoners could be detained in that prison. However, most political prisoners would be incarcerated in the capital city Njamena, or in the north at Faya Largeau, or even in the south. The representative also stated that he was not aware of escapes from that prison.
Further information on the Abéché prison could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Amnesty International, Paris. 9 September 1998. Telephone interview with representative.
Tchad-Solidarités-France, Bully-les-Mines, France. 22 September 1998. Telephone interview with representative.
Additional Sources Consulted
Africa Confidential [London]. 1997-1998
Africa Research Bulletin. 1997-1998.
Amnesty International On-line [Internet]. 1997-1998.
Electronic sources: LEXIS/NEXIS, WNC, Internet.
La Lettre du Continent [Paris]. 1997-1998.
La Lettre de la FIDH [Paris]. 1997-1998.
Observatoire international des prisons. Annual reports for 1993 and 1994.
Five oral sources contacted did not provide the requested information.