France planning Supermax-style prison near notorious Devils Island penal colony site
CNNMAY 9
France Plans High-Security Prison in French Guiana for 2028
Above: France's Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin (C) visits the Remire-Montjoly prison as part of his official trip in French Guiana on May 19, 2025. Image copyright: RONAN LIETAR/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
A remote supermax prison deep in the Amazon of French Guiana isn’t just symbolic — it's smart. France is learning that real isolation, not just iron bars, is key to cutting off drug kingpins and gang leaders who still command from their cells. By targeting them at their source and placing them far from their networks, this prison offers a level of security and control that current facilities lack, ensuring these criminals can no longer exert influence from within the system.
Narrative B
The new prison in French Guiana is a troubling step backward, reviving the dark legacy of colonial-era penal colonies. Rather than focusing on the region's real needs — like schools, infrastructure, and social investment — France is once again treating French Guiana as a regressive dumping ground for its most dangerous criminals. This project not only perpetuates harmful stereotypes but also risks violating inmates' fundamental rights to family contact and proper legal defense.