Former Guinea Leader Convicted for 2009 Massacre

Former Guinean junta leader Moussa Dadis Camara has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after being found guilty of crimes against humanity related to the 2009 stadium massacre, where over 150 civilians were killed and many women were raped by security forces. Alongside Camara, seven other military leaders were convicted, with some receiving life sentences for their roles in the crackdown on peaceful protesters demanding democracy. The trial, which began in September 2022, faced challenges including a boycott by lawyers amid a nationwide strike over government repression. Human rights experts have expressed concerns about ongoing civil liberties violations under the military junta that has governed since 2021, including the detention of opposition activists. Survivors recounted their harrowing experiences during the trial, which has been hailed as a significant step towards justice. However, the trial's symbolic nature is overshadowed by fears of continued impunity and repression in Guinea.