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. The court’s decision marks the first instance of prosecuting such charges against an individual in Guinea. At least 265 demonstrators were killed and raped during the September 28, 2009 massacre by Camara’s subordinates.
The court complied with the prosecution’s request to reclassify Camara’s charges of murder, torture, kidnapping, and rape as crimes against humanity. This was done under Guinea’s criminal procedure law and its 2016 criminal code, despite the defense’s argument that such reclassification would violate the right to a fair trial. Camara was held responsible under the principle of command responsibility for the actions of his subordinates, even as he and his junta claimed the massacre was carried out by uncontrolled elements.
Alongside Camara, seven other former military officials were convicted of similar crimes. Notably, Claude Pivi was sentenced to life imprisonment, and Marcel Guilavogui received an 18-year prison term. Four other defendants were acquitted. The court also ordered compensation for the victims, ranging from 200 million to one billion francs ($23,000 – $115,000).
The case has drawn international attention, with Human Rights Watch (HRW) noting that the verdict sends a clear message that justice can be achieved for serious crimes. HRW has also called for the safety of witnesses and victims to be ensured following the verdict, amid concerns about the disappearance of opposition members in Guinea. The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has also expressed its concern over these disappearances.
The prosecution and the convicted individuals have a period of two months and 15 days to appeal the decision.
For more details, see the full report on JURIST.