• France plans a high-security prison in French Guiana for 500 inmates, including drug traffickers and Islamic extremists.
• The $450 million facility is set to open by 2028, aiming to cut off prisoners from their criminal networks.
• Local officials express outrage over the lack of prior consultation regarding the project, calling it disrespectful.

France has announced plans to construct a high-security prison facility in French Guiana, aimed at housing some of the country's most dangerous criminals, including drug traffickers and Islamic militants. The facility, set to open by 2028, is expected to hold about 500 inmates. French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin made the announcement during a visit to the region, emphasizing that the prison's location in the Amazon rainforest would help isolate inmates from external influences, thus curbing their ability to run criminal operations while incarcerated, according to Le Monde and India Times.

The planned prison, located in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, will be surrounded by dense jungle, a decision aimed at further isolating these inmates and minimizing their contact with the outside world. Darmanin noted that "regular searches and constant electronic surveillance" would be implemented to prevent communication with criminal networks, as part of the government’s efforts to regain control over its prison system, according to Middle East Eye and India Times.

However, the initiative has incited significant backlash from local officials and residents of French Guiana. Jean-Paul Fereira, the acting president of the regional assembly, voiced his astonishment and indignation, stating that local officials were not consulted prior to the announcement. He labeled the decision "disrespectful" and called it an insult to the history of a region that has historically been impacted by France's colonial actions, according to Le Monde and Middle East Eye.

Moreover, opposition from Jean-Victor Castor, a parliament member, underscores the broader concerns about placing a prison for severely criminal offenders in a location with such historical significance and contemporary implications for local governance. Castor described the government's decision as a "political provocation and a colonial regression," highlighting the need for consultation with local authorities moving forward, as reported by Le Monde.