Guinea Junta Chief Pardons Moussa Dadis Camara for 2009 Stadium Massacre
Guinea’s junta leader pardoned former military chief Moussa Dadis Camara, citing health issues, following his 20-year sentence for a 2009 stadium massacre where at least 157 people were killed. The current military government will pay $2 million in compensation for rape victims and $18 million to families of the deceased. Camara had seized power in a coup in 2008.
Guinea’s junta leader has granted a pardon to former military chief Moussa Dadis Camara due to his health condition, following his conviction last year for crimes against humanity related to the 2009 stadium massacre. This decree was announced on state television late Friday.
Camara, who came to power in a coup in 2008, was sentenced to 20 years in prison on July 31, 2024, for his involvement in the massacre of at least 157 individuals during a pro-democracy rally in Conakry.
During the events of September 28, 2009, security forces violently dispersed a crowd of tens of thousands objecting to Camara’s potential candidacy for the upcoming presidential election. The crackdown resulted in numerous deaths, injuries, and at least a dozen reported instances of rape by security personnel.
Alongside Camara, seven other military commanders were also convicted in relation to the massacre. The current military government of Guinea confirmed it would fulfill the court’s order for compensation to the victims, totaling at least $2 million for rape victims and $18 million for families of the deceased or missing individuals.
Junta leader Mamady Doumbouya, who orchestrated a coup in 2021, now oversees these developments in Guinea’s ongoing political landscape.
The pardon of Moussa Dadis Camara by Guinea’s junta leader highlights complex legal and moral issues surrounding accountability for human rights violations, particularly in light of the financial reparations promised to massacre victims. This decision raises questions regarding justice and the implications of pardoning military leaders for past atrocities, indicating a significant moment in Guinea’s political context and history.
Original Source: www.usnews.com
