Aboubacar Sidiki Diakité. Known as Toumba. Died early on Wednesday in a hospital after a medical emergency, according to the prison administration. He was serving a 10-year sentence for his involvement in the 2009 Conakry stadium massacre, where more than 150 people were killed and at least 109 women were raped. Diakité was a key figure in the military regime that ruled the West African nation at the time.

Controversial Figure in Custody

While in prison. Diakité remained a controversial figure, having created a political party and attempting to run for president; Last year, he declared his intention to stand in the presidential elections, but the Supreme Court rejected his bid, ruling he was ineligible. At the time of the massacre, Diakité was the commander of the presidential guard and a close ally of former military ruler Moussa Dadis Camara.

The prison administration confirmed that Diakité was declared dead at the Samory Touré Military Hospital in Conakry, where he was taken late on Monday. His medical report indicated symptoms including gastric swelling, abdominal pain, and constipation. His death has sparked mixed reactions in Guinea, where the memory of the 2009 violence remains politically sensitive, and many still seek justice.

Legacy of the 2009 Massacre

Tens of thousands of people had gathered at a stadium on 28 September 2009 to protest against the possibility of Camara running for president. On Camara’s orders, security forces opened fire on the crowd, killing more than 150 people and injuring hundreds. According to judicial findings, at least 109 women and girls were also raped.

Camara survived a shot to the head shortly after the massacre, which was blamed on Diakité, according to AFP news agency. Diakité later fled the country and was arrested in Senegal in December 2016, where he was living under an assumed identity. A year later, he was extradited to Guinea.

Camara spent 12 years in exile before returning to face justice. After a 22-month trial, he and seven of his commanders were convicted in 2024. Camara was sentenced to 20 years in prison for crimes against humanity but was pardoned in March last year by current leader Mamady Doumbouya, less than a year into his imprisonment, for health reasons.

Unresolved Political Tensions

Diakité’s death has underlined the unresolved tensions in Guinea’s political landscape, where former military figures have continued to exert influence long after leaving power. The boundaries between justice, reconciliation, and political ambition remain contested.

Guinea has experienced repeated periods of instability since independence, marked by military coups, contested elections, and violent crackdowns on dissent. Although the country has formally returned to civilian rule, efforts to address past abuses have been slow and, at times, deeply divisive.

In 2010, shortly after the massacre, Alpha Condé won a presidential election. He was ousted in the country’s most recent coup in 2021 by Doumbouya, who went on to win presidential elections last year. Diakité’s death raises fresh questions about the legacy of accountability and about the fate of those held responsible for one of the darkest episodes in Guinea’s recent history.

According to the prison administration, Diakité was declared dead at the Samory Touré Military Hospital in Conakry. His medical report indicated symptoms including gastric swelling, abdominal pain, and constipation. His death has sparked mixed reactions in Guinea, where the memory of the 2009 violence remains politically sensitive, and many still seek justice.

One political expert likened his death to “the end of an era,” telling the BBC: “He died, but the full truth died with him.” The 2009 massacre remains a dark chapter in Guinea’s history, with over 150 people killed and 109 women raped. Diakité was a central figure in that tragedy and was later convicted for his role.

His death has reignited discussions about accountability and justice in the region, with many questioning whether the full truth about the massacre will ever be revealed. The political landscape in Guinea remains complex, with former military leaders continuing to wield influence despite legal consequences.

As the country moves forward, the legacy of the 2009 massacre and the role of figures like Diakité will continue to shape its political future. The ongoing efforts to address past abuses will be critical in determining the path ahead for Guinea and its people.