2023 Conakry prison raid

Last updated

2023 Conakry prison raid
Date4 November 2023;10 months ago (2023-11-04)
Location
Maison Centrale de Conakry, Conakry, Guinea
9°30′49″N13°42′19″W / 9.51361°N 13.70528°W / 9.51361; -13.70528
Result Moussa Dadis Camara is briefly broken out of prison, but is recaptured hours later
Belligerents
Guinean Armed Forces
National Police Force		 Armed commandos
Casualties and losses
4 killed
Unknown injured		 3 killed
Unknown injured
2 civilians killed
Guinea adm location map.svg
Red pog.svg
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Maison Centrale de Conakry, the prison where the raid took place

On 4 November 2023, armed men raided the Maison Centrale de Conakry prison and broke out former President of Guinea Moussa Dadis Camara and three other officials. The raid killed nine people and injured six others.

Contents

Camara and two other prisoners were re-arrested hours after the incident.

Background

Camara seized power on 23 December in the 2008 Guinean coup d'état, which occurred shortly after the death of former president Lansana Conté.

In 2009, protests erupted against Camara's junta. When protesters gathered at a large stadium, security forces opened fire, killing 157 and injuring over 1,000.

On 27 September 2022, Camara was imprisoned and tried for the 2009 massacre along with 10 other former military and government officials.

Prison raid

At around 0500 GMT, heavily armed men allegedly led by the son of Claude Pivi broke into the Maison Centrale de Conakry prison. [1] [2] Gunfire was heard throughout Kaloum as the raid took place. [3] The intruders broke out Camara, Pivi, Blaise Goumou, and Moussa Thiégboro Camara  [ fr ]. [4] [5] [6] Nine people were killed during the raid, including at least three intruders and four members of Guinea's defense force. [7] Two people, presumed to be civilians who had been in an ambulance at the time of the raid, also died. [2] Six other people were also treated for gunshot wounds. [8] The prison was secured by Guinea's military after the raid, and the government stated that the situation was "under control". [9]

Manhunt

Immediately after the incident, authorities started a nationwide manhunt to recapture the escaped prisoners. [8] Hours later, Camara, and two others were recaptured and brought back to prison. [9] Claude Pivi remained on the run, and Guinean authorities offered a reward of 500 million Guinean francs to anyone who facilitated his arrest. [10] Security forces closely checked vehicles entering the government district of Conakry, searching for Pivi and potential weapons. [2]

On 17 September 2024, Pivi was arrested in Libera and extradited to Guinea on 19 September. [11]

Aftermath

In the aftermath of the incident, Guinean security forces blocked access to numerous locations in Conakry, primarily in the Kaloum district.[ citation needed ] Soldiers reportedly patrolled the streets of Conakry in armored vehicles, and armed officers checked passing cars searching for the escapees. [12] Guinea's borders were reportedly closed, and disruptions occurred at Ahmed Sekou Toure International Airport since air traffic control staff were unable to travel to the airport due to roadblocks. [13]

Guinean junta leader Mamady Doumbouya announced that he had fired over 60 soldiers and prison officers for “breach of employment and misconduct” as a result of the event. [14]

Camara's trial resumed on 13 November. [15]

Reactions

The incident highlighted the fragile security situation in Guinea, and gunfire that resulted from the raid initially sparked fears of another coup d’état attempt. [12] [2]

Camara's lawyer alleged that Camara was an unwilling participant in the jailbreak, and that he was kidnapped by force. [12]

Guinea's army described the operation as an attempt to "sabotage" government reforms and swore its "unwavering commitment" to the current military-led authorities. [1]

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Politics of Guinea</span>

Politics of Guinea takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Guinea is both head of state and head of government of Guinea. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the National Assembly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conakry</span> Capital, chief port, and the largest city of Guinea

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lansana Conté</span> President of Guinea from 1984 to 2008

Lansana Conté was a Guinean politician and military official who served as the second president of Guinea from 1984 until his death in 2008. Conté came to power in the 1984 Guinean coup d'état.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stade du 28 Septembre</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sidya Touré</span> Former prime minister of Guinea

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Guinean coup d'état</span> Military coup shortly after President Lansana Conté died

On 23 December 2008, a coup d'état occurred in Guinea, shortly after the death of long-time president Lansana Conté. A junta called the National Council for Democracy and Development, headed by Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, seized power and announced that it planned to rule the country for two years prior to a new presidential election. Camara did indeed step down after Alpha Condé was elected in the 2010 election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moussa Dadis Camara</span> President of Guinea from 2008 to 2010

Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, now called Moïse Dadis Camara, is an ex-officer of the Guinean army who served as the President of Guinea from 23 December 2008 to 15 January 2010. He was the leader of the National Council for Democracy and Development, which seized power in a military coup d'état on 23 December 2008 shortly after the death of long-time president Lansana Conté.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Council for Democracy and Development</span> Ruling military junta of Guinea from 2008 to 2010

The National Council for Democracy and Development was the ruling junta of Guinea from 2008 to 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 Guinean presidential election</span>

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The 2009 Guinean protests were an opposition rally in Conakry, Guinea on Monday, 28 September 2009, with about 50,000 participants protesting against the junta government that came to power after the Guinean coup d'état of December 2008. The protest march was fueled by the indication of junta leader Captain Moussa Dadis Camara breaking his pledge to not run in the next presidential vote due in January 2010. The government had already banned any form of protests until 2 October. When the demonstrators gathered in a large stadium, the security forces opened fire at them. At least 157 demonstrators were killed, 1,253 injured and 30, including Cellou Dalein Diallo, the leader of the opposition Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea (UDFG), were arrested and taken away in lorries.

General Sékouba Konaté is an officer of the Guinean army who formerly served as the vice president of its military junta, the National Council for Democracy and Development. After attending military academy, he received the nickname "El Tigre" for his action in battle, and gained such popularity with the people he was favored to be president of the government. However, he was appointed vice president; but took control of the country when the president was shot in December 2009.

Colonel Claude Pivi is a Guinean military and political figure, member of the National Council for Democracy and Development (CNDD) and a Minister since December 2008. In 2013 he was charged in connection with the Guinea stadium massacre of 28 September 2009, in which 157 were killed by troops. The BBC describe Pivi as a "leading figure in the CNDD military junta led by Captain Moussa Dadis Camara at the time of the massacre". In November 2023, he was broken out of prison by armed commandos allegedly led by his son. The Guinean junta promised a reward of 54,000 euros for the capture of Claude Pivi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1984 Guinean coup d'état</span> Coup that brought Lansana Conté to power

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conakry central prison</span> Federal prison in the republic of Guinea

Conakry central prison is a prison in Guinea located in the capital Conakry, in the commune of Kaloum.

Events in the year 2023 in Guinea.

Events in the year 2024 in Guinea.

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References

  1. 1 2 "Guinea's former dictator Camara recaptured hours after jailbreak". France 24. 4 November 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Guinea junta purges security services after ex-dictator's jailbreak". Monitor. 6 November 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  3. ↑ "Guinea: Heightened security in Conakry, Nov. 4". Crisis24. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  4. ↑ "Guinea's justice minister says former dictator Moussa 'Dadis' Camara has escaped from prison in a jailbreak". ABC News. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  5. ↑ "Former Guinea dictator Camara escapes from prison in jailbreak, justice minister says". France 24. 4 November 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  6. ↑ "Former Guinea's military leader, Camara who escaped from prison recaptured". Vanguard. 5 November 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  7. ↑ "At least nine killed in Guinea jailbreak: government". Reuters. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  8. 1 2 "Several killed in Guinea jailbreak that briefly freed ex-president". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  9. 1 2 "Guinea's escaped ex-military leader recaptured, back in jail, says lawyer". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  10. ↑ "Commando operation in Guinea: reward offered for the capture of the last fugitive". Africanews. 9 November 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  11. ↑ "Guinea's most wanted fugitive extradited from Liberia". Associated Press. 21 September 2024. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
  12. 1 2 3 Samb, Saliou; Camara, Souleymane (4 November 2023). "Guinea's escaped ex-junta leader is back in custody after "kidnapping," lawyer says". Reuters. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  13. ↑ "Guinea: Heightened security in response to escape of high profile prisoner in Conakry, Nov. 4 /update 1". Crisis24. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  14. ↑ "Guinea sacks soldiers and prison officers over former leader's jailbreak". Africanews. 6 November 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  15. ↑ "Trial Resumes in Guinea After Dramatic Jailbreak Raises Concerns". Africanews. 14 November 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
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