A court in Guinea sentenced former military ruler Moussa Dadis Camara to 20 years in prison for crimes against humanity, related to the 2009 massacre at a pro-democracy rally in Conakry, where over 150 people were killed. The trial, which began in November 2022, saw testimonies from more than 100 survivors and victims’ relatives. Charges against Camara and other military commanders included murder, rape, torture, and kidnapping, now reclassified as crimes against humanity. Seven commanders were also found guilty, while four were acquitted.
Camara had seized power in a 2008 coup and faced backlash when he planned to run in the 2009 presidential elections. Soldiers under his command opened fire on demonstrators, and a Human Rights Watch report implicated his top aides. Camara fled Guinea after an assassination attempt but returned in 2022 to face trial, maintaining his innocence. Amnesty International praised the verdict, highlighting ongoing issues with excessive force in Guinea.