The trial of Captain Camara, along with 11 others including the former head of the presidential guard, government ministers, and security officials, was seen as a crucial test for the region in holding military rulers accountable.The proceedings were televised and closely followed by many of Guinea’s 14 million citizens.
Captain Camara was sentenced to 20 years in prison, while Lieutenant Aboubacar Diakité, the former head of the presidential guard, received a 10-year sentence. The judge found six other defendants guilty and acquitted four, including a former health minister.
The massacre
The massacre occurred on September 28, 2009. Pro-democracy protesters had gathered for a massive rally in Conakry’s stadium, demonstrating against Captain Camara, who had seized power in a coup in December 2008.
Accusations against Camara included overseeing the massacre where hundreds of security forces stormed the stadium and opened fire on the demonstrators. In addition to the 150 people killed, hundreds were wounded, and at least 109 women were raped or sexually assaulted, some with batons and bayonets, according to witness accounts and a 2009 United nations investigation.
Aftermath and cover-up
The bodies of those who tried to flee or hide were found scattered across the stadium’s field and around its gates, walls, and locker rooms. Following the massacre, security forces attempted to cover up the atrocities by burying bodies in mass graves and sealing off the stadium, according to Human Rights Watch, which asserted that the abuses on and after September 28 were premeditated and organised, amounting to crimes against humanity.
Long struggle for
For over a decade, survivors and the families of victims sought justice, but their efforts were in vain. The elected government that succeeded Captain Camara’s, led by President Alpha Condé, conducted an investigation and promised a trial. However, this promise remained unfulfilled until another military junta, led by Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, who overthrew President Condé in 2021, finally held the trial.
Political context
Observers saw the trial as an opportunity for Colonel Doumbouya’s government to build its international credibility and show commitment to justice and the rule of law. Many Guineans initially welcomed Colonel Doumbouya, hoping he would offer a break from President Condé’s increasingly repressive regime.
However, the optimism was short-lived. Under Doumbouya’s rule, demonstrations have been banned, yet protests have continued, leading to the deaths of 47 people according to Amnesty International. The opposition coalition was dissolved, and recently, three of the country’s main independent media outlets were shut down.
Earlier this month, two leading opposition figures were arrested and subsequently disappeared, causing a significant outcry within the country. This also led to a boycott of Captain Camara’s trial by lawyers, according to New York Times.
Source : Times of India
