Guinea Junta Leader Grants Pardon to Moussa Dadis Camara Over Stadium Massacre
Guinea’s junta leader has pardoned former military leader Moussa Dadis Camara due to health issues. Camara was previously sentenced to 20 years for his role in the 2009 stadium massacre, where over 157 were killed. The government also aims to fulfill court-ordered compensations amounting to $20 million for victims and victims’ families.
Guinea’s current junta leader has granted a pardon to former military leader Moussa Dadis Camara on the grounds of health concerns. This decision follows a court ruling in which Camara was found guilty of crimes against humanity related to the tragic events of a stadium massacre in 2009. The decree announcing the pardon was broadcasted through state television late on Friday.
Camara, who initially took control in a coup in 2008, received a 20-year prison sentence on July 31, 2024, following the massacre of at least 157 individuals during a large pro-democracy rally in Conakry. On September 28, 2009, amidst a large gathering urging him not to run for presidency, violence erupted, resulting in numerous fatalities and injuries due to gunfire and subsequent chaos.
During the horrifying incident, prosecutors highlighted that at least a dozen women were subjected to sexual assault by security forces. Camara was convicted alongside seven military commanders for their collective responsibility in the atrocity.
In a separate but related matter, Guinea’s military government has pledged to compensate the victims in accordance with the court’s directive. According to estimates, this compensation is set to total over $20 million, including $2 million designated for rape victims and $18 million for the families of those deceased or unaccounted for since the massacre. Mamady Doumbouya, the junta leader who assumed power in a coup in 2021, has overseen these developments.
The recent pardon of Moussa Dadis Camara highlights significant judicial and humanitarian complexities in Guinea. While health issues prompted the pardon, it coincides with the commitment of the military government to provide substantial compensation to victims of the 2009 stadium massacre. This situation underscores ongoing concerns regarding justice, accountability, and the wellbeing of affected families in Guinea.
Original Source: www.usnews.com
