This decision comes as the current military government plans to compensate victims of the tragic 2009 event.
**Ex-Military Leader of Guinea Receives Pardon Amid Health Concerns**
**Ex-Military Leader of Guinea Receives Pardon Amid Health Concerns**
Former ruler Moussa Dadis Camara, sentenced for a devastating massacre, has been pardoned for health reasons following a recent ruling.
Guinea's military junta has granted a pardon to former military leader Moussa Dadis Camara, who had been serving a 20-year sentence for crimes against humanity linked to the horrific 2009 stadium massacre. The decree, announced on state television, cited health issues as the primary reason for the pardon.
During the tragic events of September 2009, troops under Camara's command fired into a crowd during a rally advocating for a return to civilian rule, resulting in over 150 deaths. The massacre also included the rape of numerous women, with at least 109 reported cases. Camara, who came to power following the death of long-time President Lansana Conté in 2008, was virtually unknown until he led the coup that year. After an assassination attempt prompted him to flee the country, he returned in 2022 to face trial, where he maintained his innocence.
In July 2024, Camara and seven of his military commanders were convicted after a lengthy 22-month trial. The pardon arrives shortly after the current military-led government announced plans to pay compensation to the victims of the massacre, a move that had previously been mandated by the court's decisions. The compensation breakdown has been estimated, with $173,000 for each rape victim and $115,500 for those who died or disappeared during the massacre.
While the specific health issues that led to Camara's pardon remain unclear, he has reportedly received support from his family, particularly from his brother, who expressed gratitude towards the current leadership. Following his injury in the assassination plot, Camara was treated in Morocco before residing in Burkina Faso for 12 years. His deputy later organized elections in 2010 that initiated a decade of civilian rule, which eventually brought Alpha Condé to power. Condé's contentious third term was met with protests, leading to a coup in September 2021 and the present military regime.
During the tragic events of September 2009, troops under Camara's command fired into a crowd during a rally advocating for a return to civilian rule, resulting in over 150 deaths. The massacre also included the rape of numerous women, with at least 109 reported cases. Camara, who came to power following the death of long-time President Lansana Conté in 2008, was virtually unknown until he led the coup that year. After an assassination attempt prompted him to flee the country, he returned in 2022 to face trial, where he maintained his innocence.
In July 2024, Camara and seven of his military commanders were convicted after a lengthy 22-month trial. The pardon arrives shortly after the current military-led government announced plans to pay compensation to the victims of the massacre, a move that had previously been mandated by the court's decisions. The compensation breakdown has been estimated, with $173,000 for each rape victim and $115,500 for those who died or disappeared during the massacre.
While the specific health issues that led to Camara's pardon remain unclear, he has reportedly received support from his family, particularly from his brother, who expressed gratitude towards the current leadership. Following his injury in the assassination plot, Camara was treated in Morocco before residing in Burkina Faso for 12 years. His deputy later organized elections in 2010 that initiated a decade of civilian rule, which eventually brought Alpha Condé to power. Condé's contentious third term was met with protests, leading to a coup in September 2021 and the present military regime.
