The trial of former President Moussa Dadis Camara and 10 other former political and military leaders opened on Wednesday, September 28 in Guinea. They are accused of having ordered 13 years ago, the massacre of Wednesday, September 28, 2009 at the stadium in Conakry. According to a UN-mandated investigation, 156 people were killed, at least 109 women were raped and hundreds were injured. The hearing was suspended immediately afterwards for formal reasons and will resume on October 4.
The trial so long awaited by the majority of the Guinean people opened this Wednesday, September 28, exactly 13 years to the day after the events. The hearing started at 3:15 pm in a crowded room. In the dock, the 11 people named in the case, all of whom have been remanded in custody, are present. Alongside the main defendant, ex-president Moussa Dadis Camara, are several strong men of his regime.
They include his former chief of camp Toumba, the former head of presidential security Claude Pivi, the former Minister of Health Abdoulaye Cherif Diaby, and Moussa Tiegboro Camara, who was in charge of the fight against drug trafficking.
The atrocities committed on September 28, 2009
At the opening of the trial, the court first read the order of referral. This order recalls in detail the violence committed on September 28, 2009 ; a whole string of abuses including murders by firearms and knives of peaceful demonstrators, rapes, kidnappings, torture, denial of care to the wounded and others.
More than a dozen charges against Moussa Dadis Camara
As for Dadis Camara, the president of the court reminded him of the facts of which he is accused: assault and battery and intentional violence at the stadium, looting of merchandise, burning of stores, kidnapping, torture, sequestration of demonstrators… In spite of the facts cited, the former leader remained unperturbed.
The defense denounces the non-respect of certain rights of their client
“Since last night, we have not been in contact with our clients. We have been waiting for them in court before doing the final interviews, before they are invited to appear in court. Unfortunately, it was as if we, the lawyers, were intruders in this courthouse. We were prevented from accessing our clients”, said Attorney Pépé Antoine Lama. Together with his other lawyers who are committed to the cause of Moussa Dadis Camara, he believes that certain rights of their client are not respected.
In the end, the defense and the civil parties agreed to avoid a speedy trial. The defense claims to have received the trial files the day before the hearing and is asking for time to better prepare. Each party must therefore sharpen its arguments on the course of the trial, which is scheduled to resume on Tuesday, October 4, 2022.
