Latest news with #MoussaDadisCamara
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Guinea's ex-military ruler pardoned over stadium massacre
Guinea's ruling junta has pardoned former military leader Moussa Dadis Camara, less than a year into a 20-year sentence for crimes against humanity linked to one of the country's worst massacres. A decree read on state TV said the pardon had been granted for health reasons. In 2009, troops under his command opened fire during a rally calling for a return to civilian rule, killing more than 150 people. Scores of women were also raped. Camara seized power when long-time President Lansana Conté died in 2008. He fled following an assassination attempt not long after the massacre, but returned in 2022 to face justice, insisting he was innocent. Camara, 61, was a virtually unknown army captain when he led the coup. He was convicted along with seven of his military commanders in July 2024 after a 22-month trial. His pardon comes in the wake of an announcement earlier in the week that the current military government intends to pay compensation to the victims of the massacre - which Camara and the others convicted had been ordered by the court to cover. According to Justice Info, a website reporting on international justice, the estimated breakdown of the payouts is: $173,000 (£134,000) - per rape victim $115,500 - per death or disappearance $57,000 - per case of looting $23,000 - per case of torture. The massacre took place in September 2009, when tens of thousands gathered at a stadium in the capital, Conakry, to press Camara not to stand in a presidential election. Many were shot, stabbed, beaten or crushed in a stampede as security forces fired teargas and charged into the stadium. At least 109 girls and women were raped. It is not clear what health problems Camara faces. His younger brother Jean Dadis Camara told AFP: "Everyone is happy. We thank the president." When Camara fled Guinea after being shot in the head, he was treated for six weeks in Morocco before taking up residence in Burkina Faso for 12 years. His deputy went on to organise an election in 2010 that ushered in a decade of civilian rule, which brought Alpha Condé to power as president. He was overthrown in a coup in September 2021 in the wake of protests over his controversial third term. African view: Guinea's lingering military legacy Guinea ex-ruler taken by armed men returned to jail Guinea lawyers on strike over military crackdown Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Guinea ex-dictator sentenced for 2009 massacre pardoned: junta
Guinea's ex-dictator Moussa Dadis Camara, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison over a 2009 massacre, was pardoned for "health reasons" by the West African country's junta head, according to a decree read out on national television. "Upon the proposal of the Minister of Justice, a presidential pardon is granted to Mr. Moussa Dadis Camara for health reasons," said the decree, read out on television by presidential spokesperson General Amara Camara late Friday. Following a landmark trial, a court found Dadis Camara guilty of crimes against humanity and sentenced him in July to 20 years behind bars over what is considered one of the darkest pages of Guinea's history. On September 28, 2009, at least 156 people were killed by gunfire, knives, machetes, or bayonets in a massacre at an opposition rally, according to a UN-mandated international commission of inquiry. Hundreds more were wounded and at least 109 women were raped. The abuses continued for several days against women who were held captive, and detainees were tortured. Only 57 bodies of the victims were recovered, according to families and human rights organisations, and the toll is believed to be far higher. Dadis Camara was found guilty "on the basis of superior responsibility", a judge said, and was also guilty of "his intention to suppress the demonstration" and for failing to punish the perpetrators of the massacre. Seven other people were also sentenced to prison terms of up to life imprisonment for their role in the massacre. The Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) had welcomed the verdict, calling it a "landmark moment in establishing the truth... and bringing to account those bearing the greatest responsibility for the atrocities committed". Camera's younger brother Jean Dadis Camara, told AFP he was delighted to hear the news. "Everyone is happy. We thank the president ... I followed the decree on television," he said. "We are extremely grateful to President Mamadi Doumbouya for this pardon. It is the greatest gift for the entire family," said Marcus Olivier Thea, a close friend and confidant of the former dictator. Dadis Camara's pardon came after the junta's head General Mamadi Doumbouya announced Wednesday that the compensation costs for the victims of the September 28, 2009, incident would be covered. The junta would implement the reparations ordered by the judge for the victims, ranging from 200 million Guinean francs ($23,100) to 1.5 billion Guinean francs ($173,300), depending on the case. The junta, which came to power through a coup in 2021, had allowed this historic trial to take place. This week's decrees come amid severe restrictions on freedoms in Guinea. Many opponents of the junta have disappeared or are being questioned by the courts, demonstrations demanding the departure of the military are regularly banned, and several media outlets have been closed across the country. bm-lp/dhc/jfx/cw/ach
Reuters
29-03-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Guinea junta chief pardons former military leader over stadium massacre
CONAKRY, March 29 (Reuters) - Guinea's junta leader has pardoned former military leader Moussa Dadis Camara for "health reasons" after a court last year found him guilty of crimes against humanity in a 2009 stadium massacre, according to a decree read on state television late on Friday. Camara, who seized power in a 2008 coup, was on July 31, 2024, sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in the massacre of at least 157 people during a pro-democracy rally in a stadium in the capital Conakry. On September 28, 2009, tens of thousands of people had gathered to press Camara not to stand in a presidential election the following year. Many were shot, stabbed, beaten or crushed in a stampede as security forces fired teargas and charged the stadium. At least a dozen women were raped by security forces, prosecutors said during the trial. Camara, 61, was convicted alongside seven other military commanders. The West African nation's current military government announced on Thursday that it would pay the compensation to victims that the court had ordered Camara and the other accused to cover. That includes at least $2 million to rape victims and $18 million to the families of those killed or missing, according to Reuters calculations. Junta leader Mamady Doumbouya himself seized power in a 2021 coup.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Guinea ex-dictator sentenced for 2009 massacre pardoned: junta
Guinea's ex-dictator Moussa Dadis Camara, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison over a 2009 massacre, was pardoned Friday for "health reasons" by the West African country's junta head, according to a decree read out on national television. "Upon the proposal of the Minister of Justice, a presidential pardon is granted to Mr. Moussa Dadis Camara for health reasons," said the decree, read out on television by presidential spokesperson General Amara Camara late Friday. Following a landmark trial, a court found Dadis Camara guilty of crimes against humanity last July and sentenced him to 20 years behind bars over what is considered one of the darkest pages of Guinea's history. On September 28, 2009, at least 156 people were killed by gunfire, knives, machetes, or bayonets in a massacre at an opposition rally, according to a UN-mandated international commission of inquiry. Hundreds more were wounded and at least 109 women were raped. The abuses continued for several days against women who were held captive, and detainees were tortured. Only 57 bodies out of at least 156 were recovered, according to families and human rights organisations, and the toll is believed to be far higher. Dadis Camara was found guilty "on the basis of superior responsibility", a judge said, and was also guilty of "his intention to suppress the demonstration" and for failing to punish the perpetrators of the massacre. Seven other people were also sentenced to prison terms of up to life imprisonment for their role in the massacre. The Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) had welcomed the verdict, calling it a "landmark moment in establishing the truth... and bringing to account those bearing the greatest responsibility for the atrocities committed". Dadis Camara's pardon came after the junta's head General Mamadi Doumbouya announced Wednesday that the compensation costs for the victims of the September 28, 2009, incident would be covered. The junta would implement the reparations ordered by the judge for the victims, ranging from 200 million Guinean francs ($23,100) to 1.5 billion Guinean francs ($173,300), depending on the case. The junta, which came to power through a coup in 2021, had allowed this historic trial to take place. This week's decrees come amid severe restrictions on freedoms in Guinea. Many opponents of the junta have disappeared or are being questioned by the courts, demonstrations demanding the departure of the military are regularly banned, and several media outlets have been closed across the country. bm-lp/dhc/jfx
