In a dramatic plea for acquittal, the defense team for former Guinean dictator Moussa Dadis Camara argued Monday that he had no involvement in the 2009 massacre, one of Guinea’s darkest moments.
Charged alongside 11 other officials with crimes including murder, sexual violence, and torture, Camara faces life imprisonment, which Guinean prosecutors requested in late May, citing crimes against humanity.
The brutal crackdown by presidential guards and other forces at an opposition rally in Conakry’s suburbs resulted in at least 156 deaths and 109 rapes, with actual numbers likely higher, according to a UN inquiry.
Throughout the high-profile trial, televised and broadcasted nationwide, Camara has denied responsibility, attributing the violence to rogue subordinates.
His lawyer, Almamy Samory Traore, insisted that Camara made efforts to prevent the massacre and described the incident as an attempt to tarnish his client’s image.
As the defense continues to present its case, the prosecution, led by Alghassimou Diallo, maintains that the defendants have shown no remorse, rejecting any mitigating circumstances.
The defense argues that Camara has repeatedly shown compassion during the trial, countering that the plaintiffs seek the conviction of a former head of state rather than justice.
The trial, which began in September 2022, remains a focal point of national attention as the court’s verdict is awaited.
