In a surprising turn of events, Guinea’s current ruling junta has granted a pardon to Moussa “Dadis” Camara, the former dictator who had been serving a 20-year imprisonment for his involvement in the notorious 2009 stadium massacre. The presidential decree, announced on state television, marks a significant development in the country’s political landscape.
Camara was convicted in July 2024 for crimes against humanity due to his role in the tragic events that unfolded at the stadium. During a protest against his intention to run for president, troops under his command unleashed gunfire on the crowd, resulting in the deaths of at least 157 people. Among the atrocities committed were the harrowing acts of sexual violence, with numerous women reporting rape at the hands of military personnel.
On the fateful day, demonstrators who had gathered at the stadium found themselves under attack by troops, following Camara’s coup the previous year. The military insisted that the extreme violence was the result of actions by “uncontrolled” elements, yet a Human Rights Watch report indicated that Camara’s senior officials were present during the incident but failed to intervene. Witnesses recounted horrific scenes of people being shot, trampled, or stabbed, while many women were subjected to gang rapes orchestrated by uniformed soldiers.
Survival in the stadium was arduous, as Camara’s presidential guards effectively sealed off the exits, preventing people from escaping. Days passed before the families of those killed were allowed to retrieve the bodies of their loved ones, with many relatives never recovering the remains of those lost.
The pardon has elicited a range of emotions. Idrissa Sow, a metalworker who lost his nephew in the massacre, expressed his despair, stating, “After two years of trial and 13 years of unbearable pain for us who lost loved ones at the stadium, this is what it leads to: a presidential pardon for the executioner.” The hope for justice seemed to diminish with the pardon.
Following the massacre and a failed assassination attempt, Camara fled into exile but eventually returned to Guinea over ten years later. Guinea’s current junta, led by Mamady Doumbouya, assumed power in September 2021. Upon his return, Camara proclaimed his dedication to the nation, asserting that he was unaware of the events as he claimed to have been asleep during the incident.
In a dramatic episode last year, Camara found himself momentarily freed by gunmen during a breakout at the country’s primary prison, only to be recaptured hours later. His lawyer at the time described the episode as a kidnapping. Now, with a pardon in place, Camara’s future remains a topic of scrutiny and debate in the region.