In a contentious move, Guinea’s ruling junta leader, General Mamadi Doumbouya, has granted a presidential pardon to former military ruler Moussa Dadis Camara, who was convicted of crimes against humanity for his role in the 2009 Conakry massacre.
The pardon, officially attributed to “health reasons,” was announced in a decree broadcast on national television on Friday.
The decree, read by presidential spokesperson General Amara Camara, stated that the decision followed a recommendation from the Minister of Justice.
However, there had been no prior indication of a decline in Camara’s health, raising questions about the true motivations behind the pardon.
Camara, who led Guinea from 2008 to 2009, was convicted in July 2024 for his responsibility in the violent repression of opposition protests at Conakry’s Grand Stade.
The massacre resulted in the deaths of more than 150 people, while security forces under Camara’s command raped over 100 women.
A UN-backed trial found him guilty of failing to prevent or punish these atrocities. Camara had been imprisoned since his return to Guinea in 2022 following 13 years in exile.
The pardon comes amid a broader government initiative to compensate victims of the massacre, though the 400 civil parties involved in the case have yet to receive reparations.
The decision has raised concerns about Guinea’s commitment to justice, with human rights organizations warning that it could undermine efforts to hold perpetrators accountable.
As the country navigates its transitional justice process under Doumbouya’s leadership, the pardon raises pressing questions about the future of accountability and the rule of law in Guinea.
