Former Head of State of Guinea, Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, took the stand on Monday, December 12, 2022 to respond to allegations brought against him and several of his compatriots (mostly military men), who are accused of orchestrating the massacre of more than 150 civilians on September 28, 2009 during an opposition rally in Conakry. The charges also include the rape of women and torture of opposition figures.
Mr. Camara took over the country in a bloodless coup in December 2008 after the death of long-serving President General Lansana Conte.
By Tamba D. Aghailas, Contributing Writer
The former strongman is charged for “personal criminal responsibility and command responsibility” for the killings, torture, and sexual violence perpetuated against women while he served as Head of State.
In his first day on the docket, Captain Dadis Camara denied the charges against him and derided his former Aide de camp, Aboubacar Toumba Diakite (affectionally called “Toumba”), who made an attempt on his former boss’ life in a failed putsch. Mr. Dadis spent more than a decade in Burkina Faso, recovering from a bullet wound to his head.
The revelations and Liberia’s connection
During his testimony, the former Head of State accused his men, most especially Mr. Toumba and General Sekouba Konate, who took over the country in 2009 as Interim Head State after the failed assassination, of orchestrating three attempts on his (Dadis) life to eliminate him. He averred that former President Alpha Conde, who was overthrown this year in a military coup after he had forced a third term as president, was the brain behind the plots because they saw him (Dadis) as an obstacle to Conde’s presidential ambition at the time.
According to Dadis’ testimony, the plots against him included a plan to assassinate him in his living quarters at State House; but they didn’t go through with it because if would have been costly for the plotters. According to the military man, the second plot was the planned demonstration on September 28th to make him unpopular in the public eye, which he attempted to stop through dialogue with opposition leaders. He also alleged that the failed assassinations against him was planned and led by General Konate, who he said, had command of ULIMO (a Liberian rebel faction that fought against Charles Taylor and is accused of war crimes) and Mr. Toumba, who was the chosen executioner.
The revelation and allegations against the former Interim Head of State, General Konate, is the Liberian connection that has left many wondering about the role of the Guinean Army in Liberia’s 14-year (1990 – 2003) civil war that left an estimated 250,000 people dead and a million Liberians displaced as refugees.
It has been almost 20 years since the civil war ended in Liberia. However, no rebel leader, war financiers or military personnel have been held to account for the heinous crimes committed against civilian populations.
As I continue to watch the trial with its many allegations and counter-allegations of those accused, it is safe to say that this is just the beginning of more revelations to come on how the Guinean military played a major role in Liberia’s civil war (1990 – 2003) and how Liberia can burrow a page from Guinea’s playbook to fight against the culture of impunity.
The trial dubbed, “The trial of the September 28th Massacre,” is being presided by Judge Ibrahima Sory Tounkara.
About the author:
Tamba Aghailas is an author, activist, and founder of The Voice of Liberia. He has dedicated his life to advocacy for refugees and disenfranchised citizens of Africa. He has written extensively on his country’s recent history and has dedicated his life to public service. To contact him or to request a speaking engagement, he can be reached via email at [email protected]