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A court in Guinea Wednesday handed a 20-year prison sentence to former military ruler Moussa Dadis Camara for crimes against humanity. The charges stem from a horrific event in September 2009, where more than 156 people were killed when troops opened fire on a rally in Conakry demanding a return to civilian rule.
Camara came to power through a coup following the death of long-time President Lansana Conté in 2008. He fled the country after surviving an assassination attempt shortly after the massacre. Camara returned from exile in Burkina Faso in September 2022 to face the charges, maintaining his innocence throughout the trial.
Alongside Camara, seven of his military commanders were also convicted, while four others were acquitted. The massacre occurred when tens of thousands of people gathered in a stadium to protest against Camara’s potential candidacy in the presidential election. Security forces responded with lethal force, using teargas and live ammunition, resulting in deaths, injuries, and a mass stampede. Many women were also raped during the attack.
Initially charged with murder, rape, torture, and kidnapping, the charges against Camara were later reclassified as crimes against humanity. Camara denied any involvement in the massacre, and his lawyer argued that the verdict was politically motivated, announcing plans to appeal.
The political landscape in Guinea has been volatile, with Alpha Condé becoming president in 2010 after an election that marked the end of Camara’s rule. Condé’s tenure lasted a decade until he was ousted in a coup nearly three years ago following protests over his contentious third term.
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