Gunmen took Guinea’s former coup dictator Camara out of prison

His lawyer told the AFP news agency. However, he left it open whether Camara was freed or taken out of prison against his will.

“I learned that there was a release from a civil prison in Conakry that concerns my client Moussa Dadis Camara,” said lawyer Jocamey Haba. Camara held power in the West African country between 2008 and 2009. Under his rule, the military killed more than 150 people at an opposition rally in September 2009. Dozens of women were raped.

Before the news of Camara’s removal from prison, residents of Conakry had reported heavy gunfire and security forces had sealed off access to the center of the capital. “There is shooting with both automatic and military weapons,” eyewitnesses told AFP. The Kaloum district, the country’s political and administrative center, was affected.

In September 2021, officer Mamady Doumbouya seized power in Guinea, ending eleven years of civilian rule. This makes the country one of the West African states in which a coup has taken place since 2020, along with Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Gabon.

Under international pressure, the military in Guinea agreed to hand over power to an elected government by the end of 2024. However, the opposition accuses the junta of having done nothing to prepare for a peaceful transfer of power.

Media reports: Fire opened on prison staff

According to “faz.net”, heavily armed men attacked the detention center building in Conakry and fired on security personnel. The intruders were then apparently able to enter the prison. Camara managed to escape with several other people, including former ministers of his military regime, it was said.

Captain Camara took power in a bloodless coup on December 24, 2008, one day after the death of long-time President Lansana Conté. Originally he wanted to organize free elections and then hand over power. However, he developed into a despot.

At the end of September 2009, tens of thousands took to the streets in Conakry to demonstrate for Camara’s resignation, reports “faz.net”. The army opened fire on the people. The United Nations spoke of 157 deaths. Almost a year after his coup, Camara was the victim of an assassination attempt in which he was seriously injured and flown to Morocco for treatment. He left power in 2010. Camara was sentenced to prison in Guinea in 2022 for the massacre during his time as president.

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