Moussa Dadis Camara, the former president of Guinea, left the country on Monday, April 14, 2025, for an undisclosed location to receive medical treatment, following his release from prison earlier that month under a presidential pardon granted by the current military ruler, General Mamadi Doumbouya.
According to sources close to Camara, he left in a secretive manner aboard a Royal Air Maroc flight, passing through Casablanca before continuing to his final destination. This departure follows a presidential decree issued on March 28, 2025, granting him amnesty for health reasons, based on a recommendation from the Minister of Justice.
The release has sparked widespread controversy and criticism from human rights organizations, which see it as a setback for justice in Guinea. Camara had been convicted for his role in the 2009 Conakry Stadium massacre, where over 150 people were killed and dozens more were injured during a crackdown on civilians protesting his government.
Camara assumed control of Guinea in December 2008, after the death of President Lansana Conté, declaring himself the country’s leader. In December 2009, he survived an assassination attempt that left him seriously injured, prompting his transfer to Morocco for medical treatment. He later went into exile in Guinea-Bissau, where he announced the end of his leadership and his resignation from the military.
In 2022, Camara returned to Guinea and was brought to trial on charges of murder, torture, and sexual violence. On July 31, 2024, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison. After spending less than a year behind bars, his health deteriorated, prompting the current military government to issue a presidential decree releasing him and granting amnesty for the crimes committed during his regime.
It’s also worth noting that the authorities in Conakry had allocated $18 million to compensate the victims of the September 28, 2009 massacre.
