PRELIMINARY DISCUSSIONS (i) r-rhe prisons and detention centres visited are divided into two parts: 1 those which were visited both on the previous visit as well as on the instant visit and (ii) those which were visited for the first time on the follow-up visit. Separate consideration is given to visits to Police and other detention centres. Preliminary discussions, which were a prelude to the visits to prisons will, however, first engage our attention. Meeting With Director and Deputy Director of Prisons Tt seemed appropriate to start my work in Mali with a meeting with the lofficials most acquainted with the subject of my visit, and with whom also I had the closest contact on my previous visit. Thus it was that on Saturday, 28 November I met with Mr. Bourama Sidibe and Mr. Sanidie Toure, Director and Deputy Director respectively of Prisons3. Seeing it as an opportunity to critically examine their work, my hosts welcomed my visit without any reservation. I was assured of the fullest cooperation of the directors and officials of the prisons which I would visit. They had all been informed of my visit, and were expected to do all that was necessary for my mission to be accomplished. It was at this meeting that I expressed my interest to see Mr. and Mrs. Moussa Traore. The Director promised to take my request up with the appropriate authorities. As regards my report on the previous visit, it was seen as reflective of the realities. It was therefore, welcomed with gratitude, with the two officials noting that as Mali was being governed under The Rule of Law, the prison administration was very open to criticism. In response to comments and recommendations in the report, ventilation holes have been provided for the cells in Mopti prison. Two cells were also under construction at the same prison, around which would be constructed a wall. The last development would enable prisoners to be let out of the cells into the yard of the prison, where a shed would also be constructed. Plans for construction of a new prison at Mopti were being pursued, a piece of land has already been acquired for the purpose. Rehabilitation work at prisons in Tombouctou and Goundam commenced after my visit. An oral suggestion of mine for the construction of 3. The title in Mali (French) is National Department of DNAPES (Direction Nationale de l'Administration penitentiaire et de Peducation surveill6e). a shed in the yard of Kati prison under which prisoners could relax in the hot season had been implemented. The problem with hygiene at the Central Prison of Bamako which was identified in the report was being tackled by coverage of the gutters and sewage system. Prison farms have become a matter of national priority. Considerable improvement has taken place in the prison farm at Baguineda. Three buildings with three rooms each have been constructed on the farm. Two of these are for prisoners and the third for guards. Whatever deficiency which I would detect within the prison regime, I was assured, was not so much the result of neglect or deliberate refusal to do what is right as the difficulty with adequate resources. Responding to my suggestion for inmates to be trained in the making of traditional soap to: (i) Ease the financial pressures on the prison administration; (ii) Partly deal with the hygiene and sanitary problems in prisons, and (iii)Give a trade and skill to inmates who might otherwise become idle on their discharge from prisons, soap-making, I was informed, was one of the projects undertaken in prisons in Mali. Meeting with Mr. Mamadou Malle Cisse, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Mr. Namakozo Diarra, Director General of the National Police of Mali a meeting with the above officials on Monday 30 November my formal Atrequest for permission to visit Police and Gendarmerie cells was granted. I was encouraged to visit any cell of my choice. Meeting with Mr. Mohamed Silla Sakona, Minister of the Armed Forces 9-the Honourable Minister of the Armed Forces granted me audience on 30 1 November. He explained that the Ministry of Territorial Administration used to have responsibility for prisons until it was transferred to the Ministry of Justice. Currently his ministry is responsible for those detained in gendarmerie cells. Although the gendarmerie are employed by the Ministry of Territorial Administration which also has oversight of all their activities, as a