Guinea 2008 coup Leader, Moussa Camara, whose brief rule was marked by a stadium massacre returned to the West African country on Wednesday after more than a decade in exile in Burkina Faso.
Moussa “Dadis” Camara left Guinea in December 2009 after narrowly surviving an assassination attempt carried out by one of his own bodyguards.
Supporters expressed happiness about his return, many in Conakry are happy about his return.
“Really, I’m delighted by his return after a decade in exile out of his country. I’m so happy”, said Kalvigui Foromo, a Conakry resident.
Camara’s exile eventually paved the way for Guinea’s first democratic elections since independence from France, which put Alpha Conde in power.
“In memory of the victims of these painful events, for the respect of the institutions of the Republic, and for the integrity of history, I am fully committed, as I have always been, to tell my version of the truth in this matter of 28 September”. (…) “And I am ready to put myself at the disposal of the courts because nobody is above the law so that this kind of event will never again plunge Guinea into mourning”,
Camara is one of more than a dozen suspects who were charged in connection with the massacre when Guinean security forces fired upon peaceful demonstrators protesting his intention to run for President.
For years Guinea’s government had sought to prevent his homecoming, fearing it could stoke political instability. However, another coup earlier this year in Guinea put a military junta in power that was more amenable to Camara’s return.
On Wednesday, he arrived aboard a commercial flight, wearing a suit and tie and a face mask. The now 57-year-old was largely unrecognizable to most Guineans without the trademark army fatigues and red beret he wore before going into exile.
Another coup earlier this year in Guinea put a military junta in power that was less obstructive of Camara’s return.