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4mo ago

France Confirms €400M High-Security Prison in French Guiana Despite Local Backlash

The facility, set to open in 2028 near the former Devil’s Island penal colony, will house drug kingpins and Islamist radicals, sparking outrage over colonial-era echoes.

France's Minister of Justice Gerald Darmanin delivers a speech during his visit in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, French Guiana, on May 18, 2025. On May 17, 2025, the French Minister of Justice Gerald Darmanin announced that a 500-place high-security prison would be opened by 2028 in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, in the heart of the Guiana jungle, to house prisoners serving the longest sentences for drug trafficking as well as radicalised inmates. (Photo by Ronan LIETAR / AFP) (Photo by RONAN LIETAR/AFP via Getty Images)
Darmanin (right) examines plans for the new prison during his visit to French Guiana.
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Overview

  • French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin announced the €400 million project during a May 2025 visit to French Guiana, confirming a 2028 completion target.
  • The facility will include 60 maximum-security cells, with 15 reserved for Islamist militants, aiming to isolate dangerous criminals and disrupt drug trafficking networks.
  • French Guiana, a key transit point for South American cocaine, has the highest homicide rate among French territories, driving the security rationale for the prison.
  • Local officials, including Jean-Paul Fereira and Jean-Victor Castor, condemned the lack of consultation, calling the plan disrespectful and a colonial regression.
  • The prison’s proximity to the infamous Devil’s Island penal colony has reignited painful historical memories, intensifying opposition to the project.