Former military ruler Moussa Dadis Camara of Guinea sentenced to twenty years for crimes against humanity

 

A court in Guinea found former military dictator Moussa Dadis Camara guilty of crimes against humanity on Wednesday, sentencing him to 20 years in prison. The charges stem from the 2009 massacre of around 150 people during a pro-democracy rally in Conakry.

The trial, which began in November 2022, saw over 100 survivors and relatives of victims testify, over a decade after the massacre. The court ruled that the charges, including kidnapping, rape, torture, and murder, were elevated to crimes against humanity.

In this high-profile trial, seven other military leaders were also convicted of the same offenses, while four were acquitted. Camara had seized power in a 2008 coup following the death of President Lansana Conté. During a protest against his bid to run in the next presidential election, soldiers fired on demonstrators in a stadium.

The junta at the time claimed "uncontrolled" soldiers were responsible for the atrocities. However, a Human Rights Watch investigation revealed that Camara's senior advisers were present and did nothing to stop the violence. Survivors recounted being trapped as Camara's presidential guard blocked the stadium exits.

After surviving an assassination attempt shortly after the massacre, Camara went into exile but returned to Guinea in September 2022 to face trial, maintaining his innocence. Although gunmen briefly freed him from prison late last year, he was quickly recaptured, with his lawyers claiming he had been kidnapped.

Amnesty International hailed the verdict as a historic example for Guinea and the world, highlighting the ongoing issue of excessive force and illegal use of firearms during demonstrations in the country.