In a recent development, former military government leader of Guinea, Moussa Dadis Camara, has been recaptured and placed back in prison, according to his lawyer. The lawyer refutes claims that Camara willingly participated in a jailbreak, stating instead that he had been kidnapped by armed men. The announcement was made by lawyer Pepe Antoine Lamah on Facebook, confirming that Camara is now back in the Central House prison in the capital city of Conakry.

The incident took place on Saturday, when Camara was forcefully taken from prison by a heavily armed commando, resulting in intense gunfire in Conakry. Alongside Camara, two other former officials who are currently on trial for their involvement in a 2009 attack on civilians were also taken from the central prison. Sources state that the attackers managed to overpower the guards and free Camara, but the prison was eventually secured by military vehicles, with the government ensuring that the situation is under control.

Justice Minister Alphonse Charles Wright asserts that one of Camara's escaped allies has been captured, and the borders have been closed. The circumstances surrounding Camara's escape are still unclear, as it remains uncertain whether he escaped willingly or was forcibly taken. The army has described the operation as an attempt to "sabotage" government reforms and has reaffirmed its commitment to the current authorities.

Camara's lawyer, Jocamey Haba, believes that his client was "kidnapped" and expresses concerns for his safety. Haba asserts that Camara has confidence in the justice system of Guinea and would never attempt to escape, referring to the ongoing trial against him. The justice minister also confirms that Colonel Moussa Tiegboro Camara, who was also taken from prison, has been recaptured. Tiegboro Camara's lawyer states that he escaped from his captors.

According to the army's chief of general staff, General Ibrahima Sory Bangoura, the operation aimed to disrupt the reforms initiated under the leadership of Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, who seized power in September 2021. Reports from various Guinean news sites clarify that the events were not another coup but rather an attack carried out by a heavily armed commando on the central prison.

Gunfire was heard before dawn in the central district of Kaloum, which houses key government and administrative offices, as well as the military headquarters and the main prison. Witnesses report that the city center has been sealed off, restricting entry and exit. Guinea, a West African country with a population of about 14 million, underwent a coup in September 2021, resulting in the military government taking charge.

Camara has been in detention since September 2022, facing trial along with approximately 10 other former military and government officials. The trial relates to a 2009 attack carried out by security forces under Camara's leadership. Charges against Camara and his co-defendants include murder, sexual violence, torture, abduction, and kidnapping. The trial is seen as unprecedented in a country accustomed to authoritarian regimes and impunity for security forces.

The trial was initiated under the current president, Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, who took power through a coup and committed to rebuilding the Guinean state, with justice as a priority. Following the coup, Doumbouya was inaugurated as president and agreed, under international pressure, to hand over power to elected civilians within two years from January 2023. However, opposition parties and organizations have criticized Doumbouya's military government, denouncing unfulfilled commitments and accusing it of an authoritarian drift, describing it as an "emerging dictatorship."

As the situation in Guinea continues to unfold, the recapture of Moussa Dadis Camara brings him back into custody, awaiting further legal proceedings related to the charges against him.