A court in Guinea has sentenced former dictator Moussa Dadis Camara to 20 years in prison for crimes against humanity, following a landmark trial concerning the 2009 massacre at a political rally. The trial, which has been a significant moment in Guinea’s judicial history, concluded with severe penalties for several top officials.
The massacre occurred on September 28, 2009, when Camara’s presidential guard, soldiers, police, and militia brutally suppressed an opposition rally in a stadium in Conakry, the capital. According to an investigation mandated by the United Nations, the violent crackdown resulted in the deaths of at least 156 people and the rape of at least 109 women.
In addition to Camara, other defendants were handed sentences ranging up to life imprisonment for their roles in the atrocity. The verdicts have been seen as a key step towards justice for the victims and a significant move against the impunity of military and government officials in Guinea.
Victims and their families have waited 15 years for this moment of justice.
Camara, who has consistently denied responsibility and blamed his subordinates, was among 11 government and military officials accused of murder, sexual violence, torture, abduction, and kidnapping. The trial, which began on September 28, 2022, captured national attention, with testimonies from numerous victims providing chilling accounts of the events.
The chief prosecutor had called for life sentences for Dadis Camara and other defendants and sought to have their actions classified as crimes against humanity. However, the court stated it would not rule on this classification until the verdict, that has now been given.
The trial has taken place amid a backdrop of political repression in Guinea, with the military rulers who seized power in 2021 overseeing the proceedings. The day before the verdict, protests erupted in Conakry over the “forced disappearance” of pro-democracy activists, highlighting ongoing tensions in the country.