PORT — GENTIL, Gabon – In a significant gesture of oversight and commitment to youth justice, President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema of Gabon recently embarked on a visit to the juvenile detention center in Port-Gentil, located in the province of Ogooué-Maritime in the western part of the country. The visit, which took place on April 13, 2026, was a part of his activities within the province and was attended by the center’s management, as reported by the Gabonese Press Agency.
The detention center, which is divided into two separate quarters — one for girls and another for boys—has a total capacity of 48 places, with 24 in each section. The facility is designed to provide an appropriate environment for the care of minors, as highlighted by a center official. It includes four cells, administrative offices, and a security post.
Beyond accommodation, the center aims to be a hub for reintegration, featuring a classroom that doubles as a workshop, a multimedia room with a library, and social and sanitation facilities. An agent at the center emphasized the presence of a clinic, laundry, dining hall, and a modern kitchen.
Despite the completion of the building, the equipment is yet to be installed, with support anticipated from Assala Energy, the company overseeing the project. A source close to the project noted that the modern infrastructure is expected to meet the needs once all equipment is in place. The president’s visit is part of a broader initiative to improve the conditions of care for minors in conflict with the law.
The president’s engagement with the juvenile detention center reflects a deeper commitment to the welfare of young individuals involved in legal disputes. This visit comes on the heels of several other initiatives in Gabon, including the opening of free training programs for 150 young Gabonese, the inauguration of the Moukala market in Port-Gentil, and the launch of a training workshop on women’s empowerment in Woleu-Ntem.
Source: Agpgabon
Original author: Redaction
