Guinean ex-dictator Moussa Dadis Camara told a Conakry court on Tuesday he was ousted by an "international plot" involving his two successors and a former president of Burkina Faso.

Camara, 57, is on trial with 10 other officials of his regime over a 2009 massacre of at least 156 people and rape of at least 109 women at an opposition rally.

He had led army officers who seized power in a December 2008 coup.

Camara was taken to Morocco for treatment after being shot in the head by his own aide, Sidiki Diakite, amid disputes over who was to blame for the massacre.

He said he finally stood aside as president in January 2010 after West African mediators intervened.

Sekouba Konate, a senior junta member under Camara, became Guinea's transitional president.

"We signed an agreement in Ouagadougou, Sekouba Konate and me, under which he was to manage political power in Guinea on an interim basis until my convalescence ended in Ouagadougou," Camara told the court.

He said he realised he had signed a "fake agreement under the auspices of Blaise Compare," who led the mediation and had taken over Burkina Faso in a 1987 coup, remaining president till 2014.

"It was a national and international plot against me which enabled Sekouba Konate to hand power to his mentor Alpha Conde."

"It was to keep me out of the country for as long as the elected president remained in power."

And the "plot was cleverly orchestrated by Alpha Conde and executed by Sekouba Konate and Toumba Diakite, my aide de camp," he said, referring to Diakite by his common name.

Guinea's transitional president Konate staged elections in 2010 which opposition leader Alpha Conde won. He too was ousted by a coup in September 2021.

Camara has denied ordering the slaughter. He was detained on September 27, a day before the trial began in a purpose-built court in Conakry.

Related Links
Africa News - Resources, Health, Food

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

Mali gets more warplanes, helicopters from Russia
Bamako (AFP) Jan 19, 2023
Mali's military rulers received more warplanes and helicopters from Russia Thursday, an AFP correspondent noted, the latest in a series of deliveries from its new top military and political ally. AFP counted eight planes and two helicopters at a ceremony attended by Russian ambassador Igor Gromyko and the head of Mali's junta, Colonel Assimi Goita. Mali's military said the shipment included Sukhoi Su-25 attack planes designed to support ground troops; and the Czech-designed Albatros L-39. L- ... read more