On Monday, prosecutors in Guinea sought charges of crimes against humanity in connection with a 2009 massacre that claimed the lives of at least 156 individuals.
Former dictator Moussa Dadis Camara and 10 other ex-military and government officials stand accused of orchestrating the killing of 156 people and the sexual assault of at least 109 women by pro-junta forces during a political rally held at a stadium in the capital city of Conakry in September 2009.
The charges they face span a range of offenses, including murder, sexual violence, kidnappings, arson, and looting. Camara, in particular, is charged with both “personal criminal responsibility and command responsibility.”
If the court upholds the charges, it will signify a significant milestone in a case investigating one of the darkest chapters in Guinea’s history. Various human rights organizations and the United Nations have also advocated for the inclusion of crimes against humanity charges against the accused.
