Ex-Junta Leader Camara Freed from Prison by Armed Men, Says Minister
Former Guinea junta leader, Moussa Dadis Camara, and three other officers were dramatically freed from prison in Conakry by heavily armed men The daring operation, carried out in the early hours of Saturday, has raised concerns about the country's stability
The Justice Minister, Charles Wright, confirmed that Moussa Dadis Camara, the former head of Guineas 2008 military junta, was freed from prison in Conakry on Saturday. Along with him, three other high-ranking officers were also released by heavily armed men. According to local residents, military vehicles and special forces were spotted in the streets of the Guinean capital following the sound of gunshots in the Kaloum administrative district, where Camara and the others were detained at the Central House prison.
Around 5:00 a.m. (01:00 a.m. ET), a group of heavily armed men forcefully entered the Central House of Conakry, according to the minister. Among those taken by the assailants were four defendants involved in the trial related to the events of September 28, including Captain Moussa Dadis Camara. The minister stated that efforts to locate and apprehend the individuals responsible will be pursued vigorously, but refrained from providing additional information regarding the investigation.
Deposed Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum had been placed under house arrest since a military junta overthrew him in July.
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Niger junta says it has blocked ousted President Bazoums escape bid
He stated that Guinea's borders have been sealed to prevent the escape of those accused of orchestrating a stadium massacre and mass rape by Guinean security forces. This trial, which has been ongoing since last year, involves Camara and several others. The incident occurred during a pro-democracy rally on September 28, 2009, resulting in the death of 150 individuals.
Camara has rejected any culpability and instead attributed the acts of violence to wayward soldiers.
Inhabitants in the vicinity of Kaloum reported gunfire erupting at approximately 04:00 a.m. local time (12:00 a.m. ET), subsequently leading to heightened security measures in the streets and the blockage of the entrance to Kaloum.
In the late morning, the capital maintained a calm atmosphere as soldiers continued to patrol certain areas, instructing residents to remain at home, according to Mmah Camara, a Tombo district resident, who relayed this information by phone.
Currently, Guinea is under the leadership of military leader Mamady Doumbouya, who assumed power through a coup in 2021. It is worth noting that this is one of the eight coups that have taken place in West and Central Africa within the past three years. Military officers also govern Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad, and Gabon.
