Guinea pardons ex-military ruler Camara over 2009 stadium massacre amid controversy

Guinea’s rulers have pardoned former military leader Moussa Dadis Camara, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in the 2009 massacre in Conakry, raising controversy and questions about the country’s commitment to accountability and justice.

The pardon, announced by junta leader General Mamadi Doumbouya on national television, was granted on the grounds of “health reasons,” although no details of Camara’s health problems have been disclosed. Camara, who ruled Guinea from 2008 to 2009 after a military coup, was convicted in July 2024 for crimes against humanity, including the killing of at least 156 people and the widespread rape of women by security forces during a brutal crackdown on an opposition rally. Despite the conviction, the pardon has raised questions about Guinea’s commitment to justice, especially as human rights organizations and the victims’ families continue to seek accountability and compensation.

The pardon also follows an announcement that the Guinean government intends to compensate the victims of the massacre, as mandated by the court. However, many remain concerned that this move signals a potential erosion of the country’s transitional justice process under the current junta, which seized power in a 2021 coup. Critics argue that the pardon risks undermining progress towards addressing impunity for past atrocities, further complicating Guinea’s path toward justice and reconciliation.