Public sentiment split in Guinea as junta leader pardons former dictator convicted of crimes against humanity

Dadis Camara, former junta leader, was pardoned for ‘health reasons’ by the junta © SEYLLOU DIALLO / AFP

Mixed reactions have trailed the decision by the head of the Guinean military junta, Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, to pardon former military ruler Moussa Dadis Camara, who had been sentenced to twenty years in prison for his role in the 2009 Conakry stadium massacre by the military.

Camara’s sudden release on Saturday, March 29, was celebrated by his supporters but sparked anger among families of victims, human rights groups, and much of the Guinean public, who see the move as a miscarriage of justice.

Colonel Doumbouya approved a conditional pardon, citing “humanitarian reasons.” The decree, read by the spokesperson of the Presidency, General Amara Camara, stated that the pardon was granted following the proposal of the Minister of Justice. The junta also  emphasised that the decision was based on medical evaluations.

In late 2023, reports that Camara’s health had deteriorated in detention circulated widely. Some reports had claimed that he suffered from serious medical conditions. His supporters argued that keeping him incarcerated would amount to a death sentence.  However, there had been no prior indication of Camara’s deteriorating health, raising suspicions about the true motive for the decision.

The pardon has come as a shock to many, particularly because of Camara’s central role in one of Guinea’s darkest chapters, where security forces opened fire on peaceful protesters in the Conakry Stadium, killing at least 157 people and committing widespread sexual violence.

After years of legal proceedings, a landmark trial in 2022 that lasted for 22 months found Camara and several other high-ranking officials guilty of their roles in the atrocities. His pardon undermines that verdict and has raised questions about the junta’s commitment to accountability and the rule of law.

While Camara’s supporters celebrate his release, others have expressed their disappointment with Doumbouya’s decision.  “We should not allow ourselves to grant a pardon for this. Even if the health reason was mentioned, the justice system could have taken measures to allow President Dadis Camara to receive treatment. So, we really do not understand this pardon,” said Drissa Traoré, Secretary-General of the the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH).

To show his support for the victims, Doumbouya issued a decree to compensate them before granting Camara’s pardon, demonstrating that “these decisions are aimed at the good of all Guineans,” Camara’s lawyer said.

Analysts have speculated that the junta’s decision may be less about reconciliation and more about political calculations. Doumbouya has been under increasing pressure from regional and international bodies to restore democratic rule since he seized power in a coup in 2021.

His decision to pardon Camara may be an attempt to consolidate support among factions within Guinea’s divided military and political landscape, seeking to secure alliances ahead of Guinea’s uncertain transition to democracy.

Camara, who ruled Guinea for less than a year, between 2008 and 2009, after taking power in a coup, remains a controversial figure. His brief reign was marked by his erratic behaviour, violent crackdowns, and the stadium massacre, which led to his near-assassination and eventual exile.

In spite of his crimes, Camara retains a loyal following, especially within military circles and ethnic groups who see him as a nationalist leader. He is also popular in the south-east of the country, near the border with Liberia and Cote D’Ivoire. His loyalists even staged a daring prison break , helping him escape before he was recaptured.

Within Guinea, condemnation of the junta’s decision are discussed quietly in some circles. Opposition leaders have seized on the controversy, accusing Doumbouya of prioritising political expediency over justice. “If even those convicted of mass murder can be freed with a stroke of a pen, what hope is there for the rule of law?” an opposition figure asked.

There were already delays and political interference on Guinea’s path to justice for the 2009 massacre. The trial had been hailed as a rare example of accountability in a region where impunity for state-sponsored violence is common. Now, Camara’s release threatens to derail that fragile progress, some observers say.

For many Guineans, the pardon is a stark reminder of the country’s turbulent history that has seen power prevail over justice, and where the wounds of the past remain unhealed. As protests grow and tensions rise, the junta’s next moves will be crucial in determining whether Guinea moves toward reconciliation or deeper instability.