Former Guinean Dictator Camara and Two Others Freed in Heavily Armed Prison Break, Borders Closed for Search Operation

Ex-dictator Camara and two others recaptured and back in jail after brief escape during armed prison break; army describes incident as sabotage attempt against current government reforms.

Moussa Dadis Camara, the former military government leader of Guinea and two other former officials, were briefly freed from prison by a heavily armed commando in Conakry. The group was said to have known the location of Camara's cell, indicating a well-planned operation.
Camara's lawyer argued that his client was kidnapped and did not participate willingly in the operation, adding that he believed Camara's life was in danger. The army, however, described the event as a sabotage attempt against the government's reforms.
The capital city was sealed and the borders were closed following the incident. Justice Minister Alphonse Charles Wright said one of Camara's escaped allies was captured, but did not provide details on the ongoing investigation.
Camara and the other escaped officials were on trial for a 2009 attack on civilians during his presidency, in which 156 people were killed and at least 109 women raped, according to a UN-mandated inquiry. The charges against them include murder, sexual violence, torture, abduction and kidnapping.
Guinea, which experienced a coup in September 2021 just like in 2008, has been led by the military government since the overthrow of civilian President Alpha Conde. The new leadership under Colonel Mamady Doumbouya has shown support for the trial against Camara and his co-defendants.

Al Jazeera

South China Morning Post