Massacre of September 28, 2009: the ICC in Conakry to speed up the holding of a trial
New ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan has made the September 28, 2009 massacre dossier one of his priorities (illustration image) Ebrahim HAMID AFP
Text by: Bineta Diagne
2 min
A mission from the International Criminal Court was in Guinea Thursday and Friday.
Its objective: to accelerate preparations for a trial concerning the massacre at the stadium on September 28, 2009, which left 150 people dead and in which more than a hundred women were raped.
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This trial has been postponed several times.
Until then, Conakry relied on the construction of a new court.
For its part, the ICC has opened since 2003 a preliminary investigation for “crimes against humanity”.
Through this first contact with the transitional authorities, the ICC sends a strong signal: the new prosecutor Karim Khan is making the September 28 case one of his priorities.
The ICC team, commissioned by the Office of the Prosecutor, met with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Justice.
This delegation from the ICC visited the site of the court supposed to house the trial on the violence committed on September 28, 2009.
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To read also: "Disappeared", the forgotten of September 28, 2009 in Guinea
For the ICC, this project should not be a brake: Amady Ba, the head of international cooperation of the Office of the Prosecutor, "
proposes to adapt the Court of Appeal of Conakry to accommodate this trial, pending delivery. of the future ad hoc tribunal
”, explains a good source.
This mission suggests training magistrates for a month on “mass rape” issues.
This delegation gives the new authorities an ultimatum: three months to start the trial.
If nothing is done, the ICC would take over.
On the side of Conakry, the reflection is launched.
And the logistical needs are numerous: to envisage such a trial in the Court of Appeal, "
we would need security, sound in the rooms and set up the boxes for the accused
", notes an observer.
The ball is in the court of the steering committee, which will meet next week to study this proposal, indicates a source at the Ministry of Justice.
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The RFI archives on the events of September 28, 2009:
Morning of September 28: a difficult path to the stadium
September 28, midday: the descent to hell
Afternoon of September 28: heal the blows, hide the bodies
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