Guinea: Former minister Tibou Kamara takes the stand at the trial of the 28 September 2009 massacre
The historic trial of the September 28, 2009 massacre in Guinea resumed on November 13, 2023 in Conakry in the absence of one of the defendants and under the repercussions of the commando operation that temporarily released the former junta leader, Moussa Dadis Camara, from prison on November 4. This Monday was marked by the passage to the bar of Tibou Kamara, minister at the time of the events.
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The trial of the September 28, 2009 massacre is being held in a new court in Conakry. © Matthias Raynal / RFI
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With our correspondent in Conakry, Mouctar Bah
In Guinea, the historic trial of the massacre of September 28, 2009 resumed on November 13, 2023 in Conakry in the absence of one of the accused, Claude Pivi, who is still at large, and under the repercussions of the commando operation that temporarily released Moussa Dadis Camara from prison nine days earlier.
Gunmen on November 4 smuggled the former junta leader and three other prisoners on trial for a 2009 massacre under President Dadis Camara, one of the darkest pages in Guinean history.
Yesterday, it was the turn of the witnesses of this massacre to take the stand to tell their part of the truth. And it was former minister Tibou Kamara who was the first to engage in this exercise.
Read alsoGuinea: the trial of the September 28, 2009 massacre resumed 9 days after the Kaloum attack
The prosecutor asked him: "Do you agree with us that there were deaths at the stadium?" To which Tibou Kamara replied: "It's obvious, otherwise we wouldn't be here." The prosecutor continued: "There have been cases of rape as well." Tibou Kamara reacted: "I've heard about it too, but I can't give formal and categorical proof." The prosecutor then asked, "Who do you think could do that?" Tibou Kamara retorted: "Mr. Prosecutor, you are asking me to carry out investigations instead of my testimony as witnesses.
»In his narration of the facts, the former minister testified in favor of Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, explaining that the former president is not the one who sent the military to the September 28 stadium in Conakry. This testimony comforted the lawyer of the putschist captain, Maître Antoine Pépé Lamah: "It has in no way been established here that any planning was made by the presidency to perpetrate the crimes prosecuted. Minister Tibou (Kamara) recalled that the president (Dadis) did not even know that this demonstration was going to be held.
»Disappointed by the passage of this first witness, the lawyer for the civil parties is waiting to take the lead and ask his questions to the witness presented by the prosecution to know, according to him, the degree of involvement of the former head of the junta.
Maître Alfa Amadou DS Bah stresses: "It is with a little reserve since there is a contradiction between his testimony and that of Mr. Sidya Touré who was called on the phone. So we'll be asking him questions later. Maybe he'll remember the details that will make a difference.
»The hearing continues this Tuesday morning, again with Tibou Kamara, this time questioned by the lawyers of the civil parties who are very mobilized.
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