Former military ruler of Guinea, Moussa Dadis Camara, has been returned to jail by armed individuals, as confirmed by his lawyer.
Over the weekend, a group forcefully entered a prison in Conakry, the capital city, and abducted Capt Camara along with three others.
These individuals are currently on trial for their alleged involvement in the deaths of more than 150 people during a protest in 2009.
It remains unclear whether they were kidnapped or not.
In addition to Mr Camara, two other prisoners have been located.
According to his lawyer’s statement to the BBC, the former leader was taken against his will. Furthermore, the lawyer emphasized that Capt Camara had no intention of escaping prison, as he had faith in the Guinean judicial system.
In an attempt to catch the escaped individuals, the country’s borders were closed and an investigation was launched by the authorities.
Charles Alphonse Wright, Guinea’s Justice Minister, notified the public of the escape via local radio, expressing determination to locate the fugitives and hold the responsible parties accountable.
Gunfire was reported in Conakry during the early hours of the morning. The city center was sealed off, and military vehicles were deployed on the streets.
Another escapee believed to be involved in the Conakry stadium massacre on September 28, 2009, is Col Claude Pivi, a former government minister.
The attack on protesters against military rule resulted in the death of at least 157 people and numerous cases of sexual assault against women.
Col Pivi, Capt Camara, and nine other former officials who face charges for their alleged involvement in the massacre have all denied these accusations.
Capt Camara specifically faces charges of command responsibility for the actions of the soldiers who carried out the alleged crimes.
In 2008, he seized power following the death of President Lansana Conté but was ousted from office shortly after the Conakry killings and survived an assassination attempt before fleeing the country.
After residing in Burkina Faso, the 59-year-old returned to Guinea in September 2022 to face justice.
Guinea is currently under military rule, joining several other former French colonies in West and Central Africa that have experienced coups in the past three years.
The most recent coup occurred in 2021 when former French soldier Col Mamady Doumbouya led a rebellion against President Alpha Condé, ultimately becoming the nation’s president.
