60 soldiers, prison officers dismissed in Guinea over armed jailbreak

Guinean security forces patrol on the streets after armed men spring Guinea's ex-junta leader Moussa Dadis Camara out of prison in Conakry

A convoy of Guinean security forces patrol a street, after former head of Guinea's 2008 military junta, Moussa Dadis Camara, was sprung from prison by heavily armed men in Conakry in the early hours of Saturday along with three other high-ranking officers, in Conakry, Guinea November 4, 2023. REUTERS/Souleymane Camara NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES

Source: X80002

60 military and paramilitary officers in Guinea have lost their jobs over breach of employment and misconduct following an armed jailbreak.

According to local news outlet Sidwaya, Guinean Transition President Colonel Mamady Doumbouya dismissed the soldiers and prison officers after the escape and subsequent arrest of ex-president Moussa Dadis Camara and some other detainees.

The ex-junta leader and 10 others were jailed after accusations of murder of several people and mass rape by Guinean security officers.

This is said to have happened on September 28, 2008, when thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators staged a protest at a stadium in Conakry, Guinea.

Presidential guards, police officers and some soldiers are said to have entered the stadium, cordoned off the exits and opened fire indiscriminately into the crowd.

Some unarmed civilians were murdered with knives and machetes while others died from the stampede that happened.

In all, more than 150 people were killed and over 100 women raped, according to the report by a United Nations-mandated commission.

Wonder Hagan