The Guinean Ex-dictator Moussa Dadis camara has been recaptured and returned to prison on Saturday hours after an apparent jail break led by a heavily armed commando. It was reported that heavily armed men burst into the prison and managed to leave with four prisoners. It was unclear whether Camara had escaped of his own free will. Thus operation was described by the army as an attempt to sabotage government reforms and swore its unwavering committment to the current military-led authorities.

It was reported that armed and masked soldiers arrived at Conakry’s central prison and declared that they had come to free Camara. The group headed towards his cell, appearing to already know his location.

Camara has been detained since going on trial in September 2022 after being accused alongside 10 other Government officials over a 2009 massacre carried out by security forces loyal to him. The killing of 156 people and the rape of 109 women started a political rally in Conakry Stadium on September 28, 2009 and continued for days. Camara and co-defendants are charged with murder, sexual violence, torture, abduction and kidnapping. They face life in Prison if convicted.

Camara came to power through a military coup in 2008.

culled from Vanguard