Africa Hell on Earth - The 25 Most Dangerous Prisons - video Dailymotion

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The most dangerous prisons inside Africa feature horrendous and brutal conditions with many inmates not surviving the trip to prison and if they do, they may never leave alive.  Welcome to the top 25 worst prisons in Africa.  💬 COMMENT below and let us know what you think!  ✏️ Vidello Content Guarantee ✏️   We guarantee that the work you see on this channel is unique, original and created completely by ourselves in a professional recording studio using Sony Vegas 11, this also includes thumbnail images which are created in Photoshop Elements 11.   💬 SOCIAL MEDIA 💬   Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Videllopro  Twitter - https://twitter.com/William84781787  Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/vidello/  Medium - https://vidello.medium.com/

Transcript

00:00From a prison where inmates use their own mattresses as toilet paper,

00:05another where the tap for over 1,000 inmates almost never works,

00:10and a prison where many inmates don't even reach the facility due to the horrific journey.

00:18Welcome to the top 25 most dangerous prisons in Africa.

00:22Don't forget to comment down below and let me know if you know

00:26anybody who has stayed in one of these horrendous facilities. Enjoy!

00:31Number 25 Chikorubi Max Prison

00:34Chronic water supply shortages, lack of consistent electricity,

00:39and cells that are infested with lice and other vermin,

00:42Zimbabwe's Chikorubi Maximum Security Prison is widely known for its horrific conditions.

00:49Inmates heavily rely on food brought in by relatives, friends or lawyers for survival

00:55and those without external support face extreme hunger, malnutrition and even death.

01:02Basic human rights are systematically disregarded and inmates have reportedly being subjected to

01:09torture, including electrocution and have almost no access to legal counsel.

01:15The prison is severely overcrowded, housing far more inmates than its designed capacity,

01:21with cells typically measuring 9 metres by 4 metres.

01:26Chikorubi Maximum Security Prison is described as a hell by former inmates,

01:33characterised by extreme suffering, neglect and a systematic disregard for human dignity and rights.

01:43Number 24 Black Beach Prison

01:46Located in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, this notorious prison is described as dirty,

01:53unsanitary and often infested with rodents with the proximity to the sea,

01:58creates a humid environment, exacerbating health issues.

02:03Many detainees are held incommunicado, denied access to lawyers, family and independent medical

02:10professionals, making them extremely vulnerable to abuse. Diseases like malaria, typhoid, tuberculosis,

02:18hepatitis C and HIV-AIDS are rampant and proper treatment is often unavailable.

02:25Prisoners are often confined to their cells for extended periods, sometimes 24 hours a day,

02:32with little to no access to exercise or fresh air. Cells are severely overcrowded,

02:39often with up to 30 detainees sharing a single toilet facility that lacks toilet paper and a functioning door.

02:47Number 23 Drachenstein Prison

02:50Drachenstein Correctional Centre, formerly Victor Wurster Prison in South Africa,

02:56is famously known as the place where Nelson Mandela spent the last part of his imprisonment.

03:01Inmates are crammed into cells, often with insufficient space to even lie down comfortably,

03:08and many lack beds sleeping on the floor. Many South African prisons, including those in the

03:14Western Cape where Drachenstein is located, are known for powerful and entrenched gang networks that

03:20exert significant control within the prisons, leading to a culture of lawlessness and dominance.

03:28Ongoing concerns about large quantities of weapons, drugs and alcohol being smuggled into

03:34drakenstein correctional staff are often severely outnumbered, making it difficult to maintain order

03:41and ensure safety.

03:43Number 22 Abidjan Prison

03:46Widely reported by human rights organisations and international bodies to be a place of extreme

03:52suffering and deplorable conditions, Abidjan Prison in the Ivory Coast is often described as hell.

03:59The prison was built to hold around 1,500 prisoners, but consistently holds drastically more,

04:07often over 10,000 inmates, and many prisoners have no space to lie down

04:13or are forced to sleep head to toe on the floor or even near toilets.

04:18Toilets are often non-functional, sexual exploitation is rampant, and new prisoners may have to pay rent

04:26to access decent cells. A deeply entrenched system exists where longer tenured or more powerful

04:34prisoners, sometimes acting as prisoner managers, control all aspects of prison life.

04:40Violence, including beatings and extortion by members of the security forces and prison officials,

04:47are commonplace and many detainees have limited access to lawyers and fair trials.

04:53Number 21 Kamiti Max Prison

04:56Kamiti was originally built for around 1,400 prisoners, but has reportedly housed over 3,600

05:04inmates at times, with severe overcrowding rapidly making the prison's infrastructure obsolete.

05:10The prison, located in Nairobi, Kenya, was founded in the early 20th century under the British penal

05:18system, originally as a detention facility, and its punitive colonial architecture still

05:24influences its current state, even retaining aspects of solitary confinement. There is often

05:31a lack of reliable water supply, with prisoners reportedly hauling buckets of water daily.

05:38Inadequate toilet facilities mean one bathroom and toilet can be shared by close to 100 inmates.

05:45Inmates often sleep on tattered mattresses with worn out blankets, and due to lack of space,

05:52they may have to take turns lying down, and many use mattresses as toilet paper due to a lack of basic

06:00supplies. There have been reports of deaths due to infectious diseases, such as cholera outbreaks,

06:07and numerous allegations of torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment by warders, including beatings.

06:16Kamiti has also been the site of many executions in Kenya's history, although no death penalties have

06:23been carried out since 1987.

06:26Number 20 Mala Prison

06:29Reports from the grim conditions inside Malawi's Mala Prison indicate populations often exceeding 2,500,

06:38and at times over 3,600 inmates, with the prison originally built to hold just 500.

06:47Cells designed for 50 to 60 people often hold up to 150 inmates, and prisoners are so tightly packed that

06:55they struggle to find space to lie down on the cement floor. Yes, there are no beds in Mala.

07:02Some inmates reportedly sleep in a squatting position locally known as shamba, and a substantial portion

07:10of the prison population consists of pre-trial detainees, some held for years without seeing a judge.

07:18Inmates have reported the food quality as miserable, with beans sometimes uncooked or rotten,

07:25lice in food, and live cockroaches swimming in porridge, with some inmates even refusing to eat up to

07:32twice daily. The prison water supply is highly inconsistent with as little as one tap for 900 people,

07:39and this is basic and often in disrepair. There can be as few as one latrine for 120 people,

07:47making hygienic conditions nearly impossible to maintain, and even the prison showers only work on

07:54occasion. Basic hygiene items like soap and toilet paper are virtually non-existent, and the overcrowded,

08:03unsanitary and poorly nourished environment creates a breeding ground for terrifying diseases with no

08:11proper isolation facilities. A significant number of undocumented migrants, particularly from Ethiopia,

08:19are detained in Maula, and reports of arbitrary arrests and detentions in Malawi contribute to the

08:27overcrowding. Number 19, Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison. Inmates are often packed so tightly into cells,

08:36that three people often sleep on one person, and the prison located in Nigeria consistently houses

08:44populations far exceeding its capacity. Toilets are often blocked, overflowing or non-existent, and there is

08:52generally no running water within cells, and the food is described as horrible. Historically, Kirikiri

08:59has been associated with a high death rate among inmates, largely attributed to congestion, malnutrition,

09:08and the near total absence of proper medical care. There have been allegations that money allocated for

09:14prisoners' food is sometimes stolen by prison employees, with an insufficient and unvaried

09:22diet leads to widespread malnutrition among prisoners. Tuberculosis, HIV, AIDS, cholera,

09:30and various skin infections run riot within the prison, and despite the Nigerian government reportedly

09:37making efforts towards prison reform, systemic issues of underfunding, corruption, and judicial inefficiency

09:45remain. Number 18, Lusaka Correctional Facility. Often referred to as Lusaka

09:51Central Prison, or Chimbokaila. This place of chaos and misery, like many Zambian prisons,

09:59was built decades ago for a fraction of its current inmate population. The severity of overcrowding means

10:06that inmates are packed into cells so tightly that they often cannot lie down to sleep. Many are forced

10:12to sleep in shifts, sitting upright, or even standing. Inmates typically receive only one meal a day,

10:20access to water is almost non-existent, and the lack of proper sanitation leads to a pervasive foul smell,

10:28possibly from rotting sewerage that is stagnant within the facility. There are often no proper

10:34isolation facilities for inmates with highly contagious diseases, meaning many prisoners become infected with

10:42ease. When serious medical conditions arise, transferring inmates to external hospitals for specialised care

10:50is often delayed or impossible due to a lack of transportation. Credible reports of torture, cruel,

10:58inhuman and degrading treatment, including beatings by prison officers and even by cell captains appointed by officers

11:06have been reported but are officially prohibited. Number 17, Mournagia Prison. One of Tunisia's largest and

11:14most prominent correctional facilities, Mournagia Prison is frequently cited in reports by human rights

11:21organisations for its severe and often inhumane conditions. Tunisian Human Rights League report that

11:29the surface area allotted to each prisoner in Tunisian prisons, including Mournagia, can be as little as

11:36two square metres, far below the international standard of a minimum of four square metres per person.

11:44Meals served in Mournagia, like other Tunisian prisons, are often lacking in nutritional value,

11:51variety and quantity with the staple diet often meagre and monotonous. Access to adequate medical

11:58care is minimal and medical units are often understaffed and lack sufficient resources and

12:05medication. There have been cases where judicial decisions for transferring prisoners to psychiatric

12:11hospitals were never executed, leaving vulnerable individuals in unsuitable conditions. In some cases,

12:19when an incident occurs, all prisoners in a zone or wing of the prison may be punished collectively

12:26regardless of individual responsibility. Mournagia has held a significant number of individuals

12:34accused or convicted of terrorism related offences and many organisations have documented suspicious

12:41deaths within the prison. In October 2023, five dangerous inmates convicted jihadists involved in

12:50high-profile political assassinations of Mohamed Brahmi and Chokri Belaid in 2013 managed to escape from Mournagia.

13:02Mournagia has been used to detain prominent figures, including journalists and political opponents,

13:09including journalist Mohamed Bugalib, who suffered severe health problems at the prison.

13:15Number 16, Makala Central Prison. Almost unfathomable numbers of prisoners are held inside the Democratic

13:23Republic of Congo's Makala Central Prison, with between 14,000 and 15,000 inmates held in a facility

13:32designed for just 1,500. Inmates are forced to sleep piled on top of each other, on dirty floors,

13:40or in squatting positions, leading to chronic sleep deprivation and physical agony. A staggering 70%

13:47to 80% of the prison population consists of pre-trial detainees, many of whom have been held for years

13:55without their cases being heard. Inmates with money often pay guards for extra space or food brought from

14:02outside, and many resort to drinking from buckets of rainwater on the ground thanks to no active water

14:09supply. Toilets are often broken, overflowing or simply open holes, with no proper sewage system,

14:17and the stench from the prison also includes highly poisonous fumes that often overwhelm inmates.

14:24Violence is a chronic and horrific problem, with the prison being named the Corridor of Death,

14:31and has even been compared to a concentration camp where multiple inmates die daily.

14:37On September 2nd, 2024, a major attempted jailbreak occurred at Makala. According to official figures,

14:45at least 129 prisoners were killed, with 24 reportedly shot by security forces, and the rest dying from

14:53suffocation or being crushed in stampedes amidst the chaos.

14:5815. Antananarivo Prison Officially known as Maison Centrale Antanimora,

15:06its location in Madagascar's capital is has it widely recognised as a decrepit facility.

15:13Built to hold around 800 inmates, the prison has frequently held over 4,000, and in some instances

15:21has run at 1,000% capacity, with prisoners crammed into spaces designed for only a few people.

15:29Cells are described as dark, filthy, and lacking adequate ventilation and light,

15:34with most not having either a shower or toilet, and over 100 prisoners per cell use plastic buckets.

15:43Rampant infestations of lice, cockroaches, fleas and rats is commonplace,

15:48and prisoners typically receive only one meagre meal a day, often consisting of just 300 grams of

15:57boiled cassava. There are credible reports of physical and mental abuse, including torture,

16:04by government agents to coerce confessions, and bribes are reportedly solicited by judges for

16:11acquittal or early release. Poor record keeping and a general lack of government funding add to the

16:18insane conditions and degrading treatment. Number 14, Coro Toro Prison. Striking fear into those

16:27living in the remote desert of Chad, Coro Toro Prison is often described as worse than hell

16:34by former detainees and human rights organisations. Coro Toro is hundreds of kilometres from major urban

16:42centres, with no cell phone reception, making it practically impossible for families and lawyers

16:48to visit, and effectively cutting off detainees from external comforts. Crammed into open air trucks,

16:56denied food and water for days, and leading some to drink their own urine, detainees suffer a journey of

17:04hell before even arriving at the prison. Deaths during transit due to delirium and hunger have been

17:11extensively documented, with guards reportedly telling others to throw bodies out of the trucks.

17:18The prison is comprised of two main sections, Coro Toro 1, which is older and dilapidated,

17:25sometimes called Coro Toro Habre, and Coro Toro 2, which is more modern, yet still lacking even the most

17:34basic standards of care. Cells are often without doors, detainees consistently report extremely

17:41limited access to food, with many fighting over scraps, and many prisoners are shackled with iron

17:48bars around their ankles for days to weeks. Prisoners often cannot walk, change clothes,

17:54or use toilets, and many are routinely beaten by security forces, with a day-to-day administration

18:01delegated by National Army soldiers to prisoners suspected of having links to Boko Haram. Over 75%

18:10of those sent to Coro Toro prison either die en route or inside the facility, and both Human Rights

18:18Watch and Amnesty International have consistently called for the immediate closure of Coro Toro 1,

18:25due to its conditions. Number 13, Manggaung Prison. Located in Bloemfontein, South Africa,

18:33this privately run maximum security prison is operated by a subsidiary of a British security firm.

18:40But don't let that fool you, it's still plagued by severe allegations of brutality. Allegations of

18:47staff using electroshocking assaults and forcibly injecting inmates with anti-psychotic drugs to subdue

18:56them are commonplace. Routine assaults by officials include that of one inmate who reportedly died

19:04after allegedly being pepper sprayed and beaten during an unauthorised cell raid. Investigations

19:11revealed the use of a dark room, a cell without a toilet, lighting, windows, or ventilation,

19:18where inmates were held, and at least one death by suicide was reported in such a cell.

19:25One notable incident within Manggaung Prison was the high-profile escape of convicted murderer and

19:32rapist Thabo Besta in 2023, who was allowed to run fraudulent schemes from within the prison

19:40and bribed corrupt guards. Reports indicate that gang violence is so rife within the prison,

19:47some inmates have elected to self-impose isolation upon themselves due to its terrifying prevalence.

19:55Number 12. Manouba Prison. Located in the western suburbs of Tunis, Tunisia, the women's prison

20:03in Manouba has a concerning history and current reputation that leads to it being described as

20:10terrifying by some. Manouba Prison is often cited as one of the most overcrowded prisons in Tunisia,

20:18although some more recent reports have contradicted this, suggesting that it might be less overcrowded

20:24than other facilities. Former inmates have reported a severe lack of even the most simple

20:30daily items like toothbrushes, soap, washing detergent, and even basic clothing. Meals can be

20:38repetitive and sometimes served without proper plates or spoons, requiring inmates to use plastic

20:44containers brought by family or borrow from others. Reports suggest drugs are rampant within the prison,

20:52sometimes entering through food or with the complicity of guards, and prominent individuals

20:57like lawyer Sonia Dahmani have been held in Manouba Prison.

21:02Number 11. Serkaji Prison. Perhaps best known for a horrific massacre that occurred in 1995,

21:10Serkaji was also known as Barbarous Prison during French colonial rule. Once a site of immense suffering

21:18for Algerian independence fighters, many were imprisoned, tortured, and even guillotined there

21:25by French forces during the Algerian War of Independence. Official figures stated 96 inmates were killed

21:32during the riot of 1995, with the government claiming it was an attempted breakout by Islamist militants,

21:40who killed four guards. Serkaji Prison has become a symbol of the dark periods in Algeria's history,

21:48particularly the civil war, and the ongoing struggle for human rights and judicial accountability

21:56in the country. Number 10. Condenghi Central Prison. Built in 1967 to house around 1500 inmates,

22:05it has frequently held populations vastly exceeding this capacity, sometimes over 4,000,

22:12and at one point even reaching 9,530 in a space meant for 2,000. Frequently described as hell,

22:21the Condenghi Central Prison in Yaoundé, Cameroon was built with only 16 toilets and 400 beds for its

22:30intended capacity. Prisoners often receive only 4.4 ounces of soap every six months and they rarely get

22:37meat, fish, fruits, or vegetables, except possibly on holidays. Some prisoners who are condemned to death

22:44have reportedly begun dying of madness and believe themselves guilty even if innocent, and many others

22:52die from preventable diseases like malaria, tuberculosis, lower respiratory infections and diarrhoea.

23:00Number 9. Trik al-Sika Prison. Widely recognised as a place of immense brutality and suffering,

23:09Trik al-Sika Prison is a migrant detention centre located in Tripoli, Libya. The conditions and abuses at

23:17Trik al-Sika are horrific and not a conventional prison for convicted criminals, asylum seekers

23:24intercepted trying to cross the Mediterranean to Europe often never leave this place alive.

23:30Access to adequate food and clean drinking water is severely limited. The few existing toilets and

23:37showers are often in disrepair and beatings with sticks, rubber whips and other objects are common.

23:45Many prisoners are held hostage in exchange for food, release or other necessities and those whose

23:52families cannot pay are often held indefinitely. Detention centres in Libya including Trik al-Sika

23:59are often run by various armed groups, militias or smuggling gangs, with many operating without a care

24:07and treating detainees as a commodity. A terrifying symbol of the human rights crisis,

24:13faced by migrants and refugees in Libya Trik al-Sika strikes fear into the soul of any migrant who

24:22falls into the hands of the smuggling gangs. Number 8. Ibongweni Simax Prison. One of the more

24:29well-known prisons on the list, Ibongweni Simax Prison is located near Kokstad in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

24:38It was built with the specific purpose of housing the most dangerous, violent and disruptive offenders

24:45in the country while intending to enhance security and manage high-risk inmates. Its harsh detention

24:53regime makes it one of the most feared prisons in South Africa and any inmates who put a foot wrong within

24:59the prison often end up in prolonged solitary confinement. All 1,440 cells at Ibongweni are

25:07single cells, meaning inmates are held individually and the prison has operated a three-phase behaviour

25:15modification programme over three years and operates in three phases, with phase one being the most secure.

25:24Inmates in phase one are locked in their cells for 23 hours a day, have minimal to no contact with other

25:32inmates, are allowed one hour of exercise per day and are shackled whenever they leave their cells,

25:39which are windowless. Prolonged solitary confinement within Ibongweni often leads to severe psychological

25:47consequences, including hallucinations, paranoia, delusions, self-harm, depression and psychosis.

25:56Number seven, Kinshasa Penitentiary. Built for a theoretical capacity of 1,500 detainees,

26:03Kinshasa often houses between 14,000 and 15,000 inmates, sometimes even more, with overpopulation,

26:12a pervasive issue across most prisons in the Democratic Republic of Congo. With occupancy rates

26:20often around 400% and sometimes reaching 548%, in prioritised facilities, severe shortages of food

26:30and potable water are commonplace, with malnutrition and starvation causing chaos. Medical care is practically

26:38non-existent and reports of torture by security forces are prevalent with severe beatings and

26:45other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. A UN report in 2024 revealed that a high percentage

26:54of women in Kinshasa prison were victims of rape and other sexual violence during a deadly escape attempt.

27:02The commodification of freedom is a widespread practice, where magistrates and judicial police

27:08officers allegedly demand illegal financial transactions for release, making freedom contingent

27:15on money. Security within the pavilions is reportedly maintained by inmates armed with batons,

27:22rather than official police or guards, and the sick and dying receive minimal to no care,

27:28exacerbating their suffering and increasing mortality rates. Number 6, Pretoria C-Max Prison.

27:36Already the feature of one of our videos, Pretoria C-Max Prison holds some of the most dangerous

27:42prisoners in South Africa, and this includes multiple murderers, gang leaders and serial killers.

27:49South Africa's super maximum security prison has inmates locked inside their 2m x 2.3m cells for 23 hours a day,

28:02with minimal to no human contact. The only human interaction an inmate might have is when food is

28:08pushed through a small latch in their door. They generally do not see people or are able to speak to

28:15anyone in a meaningful way. Cells often lack windows, meaning no natural light or connection to the outside

28:22world. Inmates are not allowed to have watches or calendars, leading to a profound loss of the concept

28:28of time. The one hour of exercise allowed per day often takes place in a small, isolated exercise cage,

28:37and showers are taken in isolated locked cages. Inmates have very restricted access to reading

28:44material, radio or television, possibly 10 minutes, twice per month, and there are no formal classes or

28:51educators to assist them. Prisoners are subjected to a mandatory three-phase treatment programme

28:58for a minimum of 12 to 18 months, and the whole facility is designed to make security breaches,

29:05especially escapes close to impossible. 5. Nairobi Prison

29:11Encompassing several facilities including the notorious Langata Women's Prison, Nairobi Prison is

29:18infamous for its harsh and often inhumane conditions. Extreme congestion in cells can see over 100 inmates

29:27sharing a single small ward, with insufficient mattresses or blankets that leads to heightened

29:35tensions among inmates. Conditions are described as gruesome and filthy, smelly. Toilets are often

29:43overflowing or insufficient, and access to clean running water for drinking and washing is severely

29:51limited or non-existent. Inmates frequently face starvation and many prison structures are old,

29:57with lack of meaningful activities and the constant struggle for limited resources. G-Block has been

30:05described as akin to Jurassic Park, where vulnerable inmates are preyed upon by gangs of others and some

30:13are even radicalised into violent extremist groups. Women in Nairobi prisons face unique challenges,

30:20including a lack of gender specific facilities, hygiene products and adequate healthcare.

30:284. Gitarama Prison

30:31If there is one place you definitely don't want to end up in prison, it's Rwanda, with Gitarama Prison

30:38gaining international notoriety, particularly in the years following the 1994 genocide. Conditions that were

30:47so horrific they became synonymous with a living hell in a facility designed for 600 people, but often

30:54holding upwards of 10,000 prisoners, with as little as 40 centimetres of space per person. The overcrowding

31:03was so severe that prisoners had no room to lie down, and they were forced to stand, crouch or sit packed

31:10shoulder to shoulder, sometimes for days or weeks on end. Many prisoners had to sleep outside,

31:17exposed to the elements, or in incredibly unsanitary areas like toilets, drainage channels or over septic

31:26tanks due to the lack of space elsewhere. A chilling consequence of the constant standing in filth and

31:33stagnant water was the severe rotting of prisoners' feet and legs, with many not surviving this horrific

31:41ordeal. Diseases like dysentery, cholera, tuberculosis and skin infections spread uncontrollably with thousands

31:49of prisoners perishing from disease and malnutrition in the 1990s. The extreme conditions fostered an

31:57environment of desperation and brutality where space was effectively sold via an internal prison black

32:05market. Most horrifyingly, there were widespread and credible reports of cannibalism within Gitarama

32:12prison during the worst periods of overcrowding and starvation. Conditions were described as truly

32:19hellish inside, and led to an unprecedented level of human suffering and depravity that was often ignored

32:27by guards on the outside. Number three, Mukobeko Max Prison. Mukobeko Maximum Security Prison in

32:35Kubwe, Zambia, is consistently described as a facility with harsh and life-threatening conditions. The

32:43condemn section alone was designed for 48 inmates, yet it has been reported to house over 400 and the main

32:51facility designed for 5,000 often holding upwards of 20,000 prisoners. Inmates are often crammed together

33:00like sardines in small, poorly ventilated cells with access to clean water unavailable, and sanitation

33:08facilities are grossly inadequate. Cells may lack proper toilets, forcing inmates to live in their own

33:15prison, excrement and soap, razors and other basic hygiene items are generally not provided. Medical

33:23care is severely lacking with the entire Zambian prison system, having just 14 medical staff and sever

33:31condition drugs are non-existent. One report from within the prison suggested that cell captains are

33:38invested with disciplinary authority and conduct night-time courts in cells, meeting out

33:45harsh and harsh beatings. Number two, Polsmoor Prison. Located in Cape Town, South Africa, Polsmoor is

33:52notorious for its extremely harsh and dangerous conditions, particularly within its remand detention

34:00centre. Considered one of the most troubled correctional facilities in the country, its remand detention

34:05centre alone, built for 25 to 30 people per cell, has been reported to hold 65 to 80, operating at over

34:15200% or even 300% capacity. Cells are described as filthy, unventilated and ridden with pests like

34:24lice, cockroaches and rats with spread of infectious diseases, especially tuberculosis, a major issue.

34:33Toilets are often broken, overflowing or lack seats, and showers are often broken or lack shower heads.

34:41Polsmoor also houses some of South Africa's most dangerous criminals, including those convicted of

34:47murder and is infamous for the strong presence and influence of the numbers gangs. These highly

34:54organised and brutal gangs essentially control large parts of the prison, dictating life for many

35:00inmates. New inmates are often forced to join a gang for protection or survival. Violence between rival

35:07gangs is common, leading to stabbings and other injuries, and the power of gangs is often linked to

35:13their ability to control the flow of contraband. One of the prison's most dangerous inmates is Zwelethu

35:20Mthethwa, who was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment for the murder of Nokufiwa Kumalo.

35:27Number 1. Jael Ogaden. Officially known as Jijiga Central Prison, this Ethiopian facility was widely

35:35regarded as one of the worst prisons in the world, due to the systematic and severe human rights abuses

35:42committed within its walls. Prisoners have described the inside of the prison as like the walking dead,

35:48and from the moment you arrive at the facility, you do not know the meaning of the word alive.

35:54Prisoners are tortured and humiliated day and night, face months without sleep, and have no access to

36:01adequate medical care, family, lawyers, or even, at times, food. In overcrowded cells, head prisoners

36:08called Kaba speed and harassed prisoners at night during interrogations, passing notes on to prison

36:16leaders who then chose some for further punishment. Prison guards and the notorious Liu police roam the

36:23prison grounds, picking off prisoners at random, regardless of behaviour and the daily extortion of money from

36:30prisoners is common. The bones of inmates are scattered all over the compound, picked off by vermin and

36:36buzzards after succumbing to their deadly diseases. So bad were the crimes committed inside Ogaden,

36:43that the Ethiopian government at the time banned all access to the prison, including the reporting on

36:50its conditions. Jael Ogaden is now closed, and there has been some progress towards accountability for

36:56past crimes, yet many that committed them still remain free.

Africa Hell on Earth - The 25 Most Dangerous Prisons

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