Ex-Guinean president bags 20-year jail term over 2009 stadium massacre

Aboubacar Diakité, the former head of the presidential guard, was also jailed 10 years jail term for his role in the massacre.

Ahmed Oluwasanjo • August 1, 2024

Guinea’s ex-military dictator Moussa Dadis Camara (Credit: Nigerian Guardian)

Former military president of Guinea, Capt. Moussa Dadis Camara, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in the 2009 massacre of pro-democracy demonstrators.

The landmark judgement was delivered by Ibrahima Sory II Tounkara, at a courtroom in Conakry on Wednesday.

“Moussa Dadis Camara should be declared guilty of crimes against humanity on the basis of command responsibility,” Mr Tounkara declared, handing the former military president a 20-year jail term.

Aboubacar Diakité, the former head of the presidential guard, was also jailed 10 years jail term for his role in the massacre.

Mr Camara, who hijacked power in a coup after long-time President Lansana Conté died in 2008, was sentenced alongside some of his ministers, security officials and others.

The sentence of Mr Camara and others in his government came 15 years after soldiers opened live rounds on pro-democracy demonstrators in 2009, killing over 150 and leaving several others injured. Over 100 women were also reported to have also been raped during the massacre.

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