Former Guinean leader Moussa Dadis Camara released from prison by armed individuals

Moussa Dadis Camara, the former military ruler of Guinea, has been freed from prison by armed individuals, according to the country's justice minister. The group broke into a jail in the capital city of Conakry on Saturday morning, releasing Camara and three others, although one has been apprehended since then. The fugitives were currently on trial for their alleged involvement in a 2009 protest that resulted in the deaths of over 150 people. In an effort to capture them, the country's borders have been closed. Guinea's Justice Minister, Charles Alphonse Wright, announced the escape on local radio, promising to hold those responsible accountable. Gunshots were heard in Conakry before dawn, leading to the city center being cordoned off and military vehicles being deployed. Among the fugitives was Col Claude Pivi, a former government minister accused of participating in the murder of individuals at Conakry stadium in 2009. Col Pivi, Camara, and nine other charged former officials have all denied the allegations. Camara was charged with commanding the soldiers involved in the alleged crimes. After taking power in 2008 following the death of President Lansana Conté, Camara was deposed and fled the country shortly after the Conakry massacre and an assassination attempt. He had been residing in Burkina Faso until he returned to Guinea in September 2022 to face justice. Guinea, like other former French colonies in West and Central Africa, is currently under military rule, with several coups occurring in the past three years. The most recent uprising took place in 2021, when former French soldier Col Mamady Doumbouya led a rebellion against President Alpha Condé, eventually becoming president himself.