The Guinean junta’s pardon of former dictator Moussa Dadis Camara has drawn sharp criticism from human rights organizations, deeming it an affront to justice. Camara, previously serving a 20-year sentence for crimes against humanity related to the 2009 Conakry massacre, is now living in a luxury villa following his pardon on health grounds. Advocates warn this undermines accountability and Guinea’s commitments to justice systems.
Human rights organizations have denounced the Guinean junta’s recent decision to pardon former dictator Moussa Dadis Camara, describing it as “an affront to justice.” Camara was serving a 20-year prison sentence for crimes against humanity related to the 2009 Conakry massacre but was granted a pardon on the basis of his health by Guinea’s military ruler. Reports subsequently indicated that he had been transferred from prison to a luxury villa in the capital city.
Camara’s conviction was linked to his involvement in a violent suppression of an opposition rally on September 28, 2009, when a United Nations-backed inquiry determined that at least 156 individuals were killed. Many of the deceased were shot or stabbed, and hundreds sustained injuries, with 109 women reported to have been raped, some enduring torment for days.
Human rights advocates assert that the true death toll is likely higher than the 156 documented, as only 57 victims’ bodies were located despite international demands for accountability. Organizations such as the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), alongside the Association of Victims, Relatives and Friends of September 28 (AVIPA) and the Guinean Organisation for the Defence of Human and Citizen Rights (OGDH), expressed their indignation regarding the pardon.
Drissa Traore, the FIDH Secretary General, remarked, “This decision sends a disastrous signal, showing contempt for justice, accountability, and the fight against impunity,” highlighting the detrimental implications of this action. The groups issued a collective statement asserting that the pardon undermines Guinea’s obligations to uphold national, regional, and international justice standards.
Previously, Camara had sought to appeal his conviction. Concurrently, General Mamadi Doumbouya, the junta leader who ascended to power in 2021, declared on March 26 that the state would fund compensation for the victims of the massacre. However, detractors contend that the validity of justice is compromised by Camara’s release and the associated implications.
The Guinean junta’s pardon of former dictator Moussa Dadis Camara has sparked significant outrage among human rights organizations, who view it as a violation of justice. Camara’s conviction for crimes related to the 2009 massacre underscores the gravity of his actions, and the decision to pardon him undermines ongoing efforts for accountability. Critics argue that the releases detract from Guinea’s commitments to justice on a national and international scale, calling for continued vigilance in the fight against impunity.
Original Source: newscentral.africa
