Former Guinean dictator Moussa Dadis Camara has made a daring escape from prison. The audacious incident unfolded in the early hours of Saturday, November 4, when a group of armed men brazenly stormed the main prison in Conakry, the capital of Guinea.
According to reports, the operation triggered intense exchanges of gunfire in central Conakry. Alongside Camara, at least two other former officials, who were on trial over a 2009 massacre during Camara’s presidency, were also whisked away from the central prison. The circumstances surrounding Camara’s escape of Moussa Dadis remain shrouded in mystery, with questions arising about whether he willingly participated in the escape plan.
The group of masked soldiers, heavily armed and seemingly well-prepared, arrived at the prison around 4:00 a.m. local time, forcefully gaining entry. They declared their mission to “free Captain Dadis Camara”. Inside, the group navigated directly to the former leader’s cell, suggesting prior knowledge of its location, and subsequently transported him and other detainees to an undisclosed location.
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The echoes of gunfire reverberated through the pre-dawn silence in Kaloum, a central district located on a peninsula that houses the presidency, several top government and administrative offices, the military headquarters, and the main prison. The city centre has been under lockdown since dawn, with all entry and exit points sealed off.
This incident has sent shockwaves through Guinea, a West African country of about 14 million people that is still reeling from the aftermath of a coup in September 2021. The situation remains volatile, and further updates will be provided as events continue to unfold.