Guinea’s current junta leader, Mamady Doumbouya, has pardoned former military ruler Moussa Dadis Camara, who was serving a 20-year prison sentence for his involvement in the 2009 stadium massacre in Conakry.
The decree announcing the pardon, read on state television, cited “health reasons” for Camara’s release.
Camara seized power in a 2008 coup and was convicted in July 2024 of crimes against humanity for his role in the massacre, where at least 157 people were killed and numerous women were raped during a pro-democracy rally. The victims had gathered to protest Camara’s intention to run for president in the upcoming elections.
In addition to Camara’s pardon, the junta has announced plans to compensate the victims of the massacre, with amounts totaling over $20 million. This includes at least $2 million allocated to rape victims and $18 million to the families of those killed or missing.
The 2009 massacre remains one of the darkest chapters in Guinea’s history, with security forces opening fire on peaceful demonstrators and committing numerous atrocities. The recent pardon has elicited mixed reactions, with some viewing it as a gesture of reconciliation, while others express concern over accountability for past human rights violations.
