Remand Section The main problems identified through interviews with inmates during a visit to this section are similar to what have already been stated: long remand, lack of medicine, insufficient and poor quality food. Soap was supplied once a month, and it could get finished in three or four days. But if one washed with it, it would last for only two days. Once a month, the cells were sprayed with insect repellent. Among the inmates were two Nigerians, and one of them complained about language difficulty. Convicts Section Idleness was a great burden for them. They were not generally allowed outside their yard. Occasionally, they were unlocked to unload firewood. Improvement in the food would solve their main grievance. One of the cells with 39 inmates was insects infested, the inmates complained, and it could do with some cleanliness. Conspicuous in the yard and cells were sketches made by prisoners. Second Section of Prison A refuse dump was sighted between the two sections of the prison. Refuse was carted away by a truck once a week. From the extent and nature of the refuse heap, it would appear that the truck was not faithful in the matter of regularity. Former Women's Wing The juveniles were moved here about a week prior to my visit. There was a total of twelve juveniles and six students who had been arrested for their involvement in student unrest. The youngest gave his age as 14, and the oldest was 22 year old student. None of them had been in custody for more than one year. Excreta scent pervaded the cell. Disciplinary Cell A disciplinary cell had neither windows nor ventilation hole. Asked to meet an inmate who had spent time in the cell, the Registrar answered that there had been none since his arrival at the Prison a month ago. The Registrar of the Prison and guards in unison stated that no one spent more than thirty minutes in this cell. Those detained there, were checked every five minutes, it was added. This must be such an onerous responsibility for the guards that from that point of view alone, abandonment of the cell must be an imperative necessity. 16 Civil Servants Wing The inmates had mosquito nets and their cell was airy and clean. There were chairs and a television set in the yard. Long remand period was the major complaint of the inmates here. Many of them were in custody for embezzling public funds. Poor medical care and hygiene were also mentioned. Sick inmates, according to them, were not sent to hospital, and some mentally sick persons were kept in a section of the prison. Discussion with the Registrar The Registrar, Mr. Mamourou Doumbia assumed duty at Bamako Central Prison a month prior to my visit, as previously stated. He is a gendarme and is yet to receive training in prison work. Registrars, I was reminded, perform administrative duties while guards attend to prisoners. The total number of prisoners at Bamako Central Prison was 910 of whom only 176 had been convicted. In attendance at this meeting were Mr. Tieing Sissoko, Chief Guard (Surveillant Chef) and the Chief Clerk, Mr. ldrissa Traore, to all of whom I am most grateful. Mr. Bourama Sidibe who drove as to the Prison waited patiently outside the prison walls until the end of the visit, when he kindly drove us again to Baguineda Prison Farm. Baguineda Prison Farm4 Saturday 28 November A summary of my discussion with the 12 inmates at the farm on my first visit A reproduced below: - "They complained bitterly about their conditions of life. They were overcrowded and had neither blankets nor clothes (they were not naked though), their supply of soap was not sufficient, and they had no cleaning material. The small structures which housed them had poor ventilations . From their view point DNAPES did not pay sufficient attention to their conditions of life because they were perceived as already enjoying a privileged regime of partial release... They get nothing for working for the administration. They work for the administration in the morning, and in the afternoon for themselves (whenever they have the means to buy seeds) or offer their services to the villagers.6" There was a remarkable change for the better on the second visit. In place of the old building which housed the inmates, two new ones with three rooms 4. The history and location of this farm were recounted in the report on the first visit. 5.My observation confirmed this assertion. 6. Prisons In Mali, report on a mission to Mali on 20 - 30 August 1997, pp. 14-15. 17