A Guinea court sentenced former military ruler Moussa Dadis Camara to 20 years in prison on Wednesday for committing crimes against humanity in a massacre in the country’s capital Conakry. At least 265 demonstrators were killed and raped in the September 28, 2009 massacre by Camara’s subordinates.
The court acceded to the prosecution’s request to reclassify Camara’s charges of murder, torture, kidnapping and rape as crimes against humanity under Guinea’s criminal procedure law and 2016 criminal code before the sentencing, although defense lawyers argued that the reclassification would infringe the right to a fair trial. The court also found Camara responsible for the crimes his subordinates committed under command responsibility, despite Camara’s junta claiming that uncontrolled elements led to the killings and rape.
Seven other former military leaders, including Claude Pivi and Marcel Guilavogui, were convicted of the same crimes as Camara in the trial and four others were acquitted. Pivi was sentenced to life imprisonment, serving at least 25 years behind bars, and Guilavogui was sentenced to 18 years in prison. The court also ordered compensation ranging from 200 million ($23,000) to one billion francs ($115,000) to be paid to the victims. The defendants blamed one another for the killings during the trial. Camara also blamed his subordinates and denied responsibility.
In response to the court’s sentencing, international justice counsel at Human Rights Watch (HRW) Tamara Aburamadan said:
The verdict sends a message loud and clear to those responsible for serious crimes in Guinea and elsewhere that justice is possible, and the trial should yield lessons to prompt national justice efforts globally … The duty to investigate and prosecute serious crimes lies first and foremost with domestic authorities. It is crucial for national authorities and their international partners to step up efforts to pursue justice.
HRW also urged Guinean authorities to ensure the safety of witnesses and victims after the verdict while pointing out that three members of Guinea’s opposition coalition disappeared after they were arbitrarily detained by Guinean security forces on July 9. The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights subsequently expressed concern on July 19 over the disappearance of two of the members after one was released. The human rights office urged Guinea to release the members unless they were “formally charged in accordance with established judicial procedures, guaranteeing their right to an adequate legal defense.”
This is the first time Guinea has prosecuted an individual for crimes against humanity. The prosecution and convicted defendants have two months and 15 days to appeal the decision, respectively.
