CLAUDE Pivi, a former senior military officer and Guinea’s most wanted fugitive, has been extradited from neighbouring Liberia, along with his son, Verny Pivi. The arrest comes after Pivi’s dramatic escape from prison last November, where he was serving a life sentence for his involvement in the 2009 Conakry stadium massacre.
The massacre, which claimed the lives of over 156 opposition supporters and saw scores of women raped, took place during an opposition rally demanding the return of civilian rule. Pivi, known as ‘Coplan,’ was convicted in absentia for his role in the atrocity, during which military troops, under the command of ex-leader Moussa Dadis Camara, opened fire on demonstrators.
Guinea’s military prosecutor, Colonel Aly Camara, confirmed on Thursday that Pivi had been returned to Conakry’s central prison to serve his life sentence. ‘He was brought back to the central prison to serve his sentence in accordance with the law,’ Col Camara said.
Arrest on the border
Pivi and his son were arrested during a routine security check at the border between Liberia and Guinea earlier this week. Photos circulating online show a frail Pivi, handcuffed, alongside his son Verny, who is accused of orchestrating his father’s prison escape.
Moussa Dadis Camara, Guinea’s former military ruler, was also freed during the same breakout. He was quickly recaptured and remains in prison, serving a 20-year sentence for crimes against humanity connected to the same 2009 massacre.
A nation’s dark memory
The 2009 stadium massacre stands as one of the darkest moments in Guinea’s history. Opposition supporters had gathered in the capital, Conakry, to protest against military rule when troops opened fire on the crowd. In addition to the deaths, hundreds were injured, and many women were brutally assaulted. International organisations and human rights groups have long campaigned for justice for the victims.
Claude Pivi served as the minister for presidential security during Camara’s regime. He had evaded capture since his prison escape, with authorities offering a reward of $58,000 for information leading to his arrest. His return to prison has brought a degree of relief to those who lived through the massacre.
Fatoumata Diariou Camara, a survivor of the 2009 violence, expressed her satisfaction at the news. ‘I am overjoyed that he has been recaptured. I pray that he will remain in prison forever,’ she told reporters.
Health concerns for Pivi
Pivi’s lawyer, Abdourahmane Dabo, confirmed to the BBC that his client had indeed been extradited but raised concerns about his health, describing him as ‘weak.’ Dabo expressed worry over the conditions in which Pivi would serve the remainder of his life sentence, noting the poor state of his physical wellbeing.
The recapture of Claude Pivi marks a significant moment in Guinea’s ongoing struggle for justice and accountability following the brutal repression of the 2009 opposition rally. His extradition signals a message that the country’s authorities are committed to bringing perpetrators of such crimes to justice, no matter how long it takes or how far fugitives may run.
As Guinea continues to come to terms with its troubled past, the return of its most wanted fugitive may bring some closure to the families of the victims, who have waited over a decade for justice to be served.
