Former Guinean Military Leader to Serve Life Sentence for Brutal Massacre Following Recapture

Pivi and his son were captured along the Liberian side of Guinea’s border. They’ve been extradited to Guinea, and the senior Pivi is set to spend the rest of his life in prison. Pivi was the presidential security minister and was convicted of crimes against humanity. He was one of the facilitators and primary perpetrators of many gruesome acts that occurred during the massacre.

After his sentencing in late July, Camara, the military ruler at the time of the massacre, said he’ll be appealing the court ruling that convicted him for crimes against humanity. In the landmark ruling, Camara was sentenced to 20 years in prison on charges of murder, sexual assault, torture and other grave crimes, stemming from a heinous massacre that happened while he was junta head.

The convictions of the former junta leaders are rare events, considering that many of their counterparts on the continent, whether in civilian or military capacity, aren’t successfully tried for alleged crimes committed in office. “After nearly 15 years, the victims, survivors and their families have the right to full justice and transparency,” UN human rights chief Volker Türksaid in a statement. “It is necessary to continue the path that Guinea has already started towards an end to impunity, and ensuring that all those responsible for human rights violations are brought to justice.”

According to lawyers representing the Camara, “the collective rejects this decision as a whole and, to mark its disagreement, intends to appeal this unjust judgment so that it is censured by the court of appeal.” Camara was arrested in 2022, and a new appeal is set to lengthen the trial process for an event that took place nearly fifteen years ago.

The massacre

On Sept. 28, 2009, thousands of Guineans rallied at the Stade du Septembre 28 in the capital city, Conakry to demand that Camara step down from power. During the demonstrations, members of the security set upon unarmed civilians with deadly force, killing at least 156 people and injuring over a thousand others. While many survivors didn’t come forward, it was reported that many women were raped.

Due to the prominence of the presidential guard in the attacks, it was alleged that Camara ordered the killings and overall brutality, but the former ruler maintained — and continues to maintain — that the massacre was carried out by uncontrollable elements within the military ranks.

Shortly after the September 28 massacre, Camara was shot in an assassination attempt and eventually fled Guinea to exile until he officially returned to the country in 2021. Last year, during his trial, an armed group broke Camara out of jail, along with three other former government officials. They were recaptured shortly after.