Two British Men Endure 100 Days in Overcrowded Guinean Prison

Two British men, Paul Inch and Richard Perham, were arrested and imprisoned for 100 days in Conakry Central Prison, Guinea, after traveling there to recover equipment from a high-altitude research balloon. They were accused of espionage and other serious charges, which were unfounded, and endured horrific conditions in an overcrowded cell operating at 475% capacity, infested with rats, cockroaches, and mosquitoes, with contaminated water and no guards inside the cell blocks. The men faced threats, extortion, and violence from inmates and staff, and suffered from dehydration, gastrointestinal illnesses, and skin infections amid circulating diseases like malaria and tuberculosis. After their release, they were held in Guinea for an additional 42 days before finally returning home. Paul Inch described the ordeal as a nightmare and expressed gratitude for support from the British Embassy and others, while highlighting the ordeal's impact on his family. The British government has called for comments from the Guinean authorities, and the case has drawn attention to the prison's inhumane conditions and the men's wrongful detention.