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A Guinean court has sentenced former military ruler Moussa Dadis Camara to 20 years in prison for crimes against humanity.
The charges stem from one of the worst massacres in the country’s history – in September 2009, the army opened fire on a rally calling for a return to civilian rule, killing more than 156 people.
Cámara came to power in a coup in 2008 following the death of longtime President Lansana Conté, but he survived an assassination attempt and fled the country shortly after the massacre.
In September 2022, he returned from exile in Burkina Faso to stand trial and maintained his innocence.
Camara and seven of his military commanders were found guilty, while four others were acquitted.
The massacre took place as tens of thousands of people packed a stadium in the capital, Conakry, urging him not to run in the presidential election.
Dozens of people were shot, stabbed, beaten or trampled in a stampede as security forces fired tear gas and stormed the stadium.
Dozens of women were also raped.
Camara was charged with murder, rape, torture and kidnapping, but the charges were reclassified as crimes against humanity.
He denies any involvement in the stadium massacre. His lawyer called the ruling politically motivated and said he would appeal.
The 2010 elections ushered in a decade of civilian rule that brought Alpha Conde to power as president, nearly three years after he was overthrown in a coup amid protests against his controversial third term.
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