Moussa Camara: Who is Guinea ex-leader sprung from jail?

Moussa Dadis Camara's removal Saturday from a Guinean prison is yet another twist in the story of the ex-leader associated with one of the darkest pages in the West African nation's history.

Fifty nine year-old Camara is a former Guinean army officer who became the country's president through a coup d'état in 2008.

He led the West African country from December 23, 2008 to January 15, 2010. Camara rose to power following the death of president Lansana Conté.

According to the Guinean constitution, the president of the national assembly was to assume the presidency in the event of a vacancy, and a new presidential election was to be held within 60 days.

But six hours after Conté's death, a statement was read on state television announcing a military coup led by Captain Camara.

On September 28, 2009, members of the opposition protested at a stadium in Conakry, to demand for Camara's resignation.

The presidential guards "Red Berets", led by Abubakar "Toumba" Diakite, led a brutal clampdown on the protests, shooting, stabbing and raping civilians who were fleeing. Some 157 people were reported to have been killed in the incident.

On December 3, 2009, Camara was shot and wounded in the head by forces led by his bodyguard, Abubakar "Toumba" Diakite.

After he fled Guinea, an investigation was launched on extra-judicial killings linked to security forces that were committed from 2010 to 2017.

In 2018, a committee was formed to prepare the case, but concerns were raised about the lack of progress because it was not meeting regularly.

The former military chief - Colonel Mamady Doumbouya - who came to power after a coup in 2021, ordered the trial.

On September 27, 2022, Moussa Dadis Camara was imprisoned. Guinea is ruled by military leader Mamady Doumbouya, who took power in a coup in 2021.