The Violent Dictator: Moussa Camara Quiz

Answer: Guinea

On December 22nd, 2008, Guinea's president Lansana Conté died. He had been Guinea's president for 24 years, from 1984 to 2008. The public was informed of Lansana's passing the next day by Aboubacar Somparé, the President of the National Assembly. Aboubacar was next in line to become president, but the coup made sure that didn't happen. On television, Moussa announced the coup the very same day.

Answer: "Deep despair"

The statement included Moussa saying that the constitution was suspended, and was broadcast only six hours after Lansana's death was announced. Poverty and corruption caused the "deep despair" Moussa was describing, and the current institutions in the country didn't have the capacity to end the crisis. Civilians were very supportive of Moussa during his march through Conakry on December 24th, 2008. Those civilians supporters were used by Moussa to justify his coup.
Source: Wikipedia

Answer: Kouré

There are three towns in Guinea with the name of Kouré. One is a small town near Conakry's city limits, one is near the border with Mali in northern Guinea, and the one where Moussa was born is in Lola Prefecture in southeast Guinea. The town is very close to the Liberia-Côte d'Ivoire border.

Answer: Kpelle

The Kpelle people live mainly in southeast Guinea, but also in central Liberia. The main language they speak is Mande. Rice consists of most of the Kpelle's diet, cassava is also eaten. Trading with other tribes in the vicinity is the main economic activity of the Kpelle. Rice and peanuts are sold for money by the Kpelle.

Answer: Nzérékoré

Nzérékoré is located in the same region as Kouré, the Guinée Forestičre region, which is a very mountainous one. Nzérékoré is Guinea's third largest city, and many refugees from Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Côte d'Ivoire live in the city. The 1996 census gave the city a population of 107,329 people.

Answer: University of Conakry

While he was a student, he learned law and economics. The University of Conakry is located in Conakry, Guinea's capital city, and is known by that name. It is also known as Abdel Nasser University. The full name of the university is Gamal Abdel Nasser University of Conakry.

Answer: Corporal

His military career included being given the position of Chief of Fuels at the Guinean Army base in Kinda. He also was part of the United Nations peacekeeping troops in Sierra Leone during 2001 and 2002. November 2008 saw Moussa being given a position in the Guinean Minister of Defense's cabinet. He was the head of the Guinean army's fuel supplies unit.

Answer: Money owed

Moussa participated in the unrest that started at the Alfa Yaya Diallo barracks in Conakry on May 26th, 2008. The violence became worse as the days passed, and soldiers regularly looted building in Conakry. On May 28th, 2008 the soldiers forced a plane which had just landed to depart from Conakry's airport.

The soldiers didn't trust the cargo plane. It wasn't until May 30th, 2008 that the payments began being given to the soldiers. Calm was experienced in major cities on June 1st, 2008, as facilities began to reopen.

Answer: September 28th

This protest against Moussa Camara's probable candidacy in the Guinean presidential election in January 2010, which he promised he would refrain from running in, took place in a stadium in Conakry. Approximately 50,000 people, men and women, gathered with signs that called for the end of the dictatorship.

As the Presidential Guard moved into the stadium, they threw tear gas at the people. Later, they began shooting. As protesters fled, soldiers shot them, and the overall death toll is around 157 people.

In addition, 1,253 protesters suffered injuries, and 30 were arrested. Survivors say that soldiers engaged in raping women and looting shops. Soldiers also questioned people if they supported Moussa, death came to those who said they didn't. Many civilians were beaten up, and the army also disposed of many bodies. Moussa didn't claim involvement in the atrocities, and said that he couldn't control the soldiers.

He also added that he didn't know what was happening, and was sitting in his office as the events took place.

Answer: Abubakar Diakite

Abubakar Diakite was in hiding for at least 4 months after the attempt. During the attack, Moussa's driver and bodyguard perished. The attempt took place on December 3rd, 2009, and after he was wounded, anonymous officials of the government said Moussa was in serious condition.

After Moussa was shot, Sékouba Konaté became the acting president of Guinea. Jean-Marie Doré became the new 6-month transitional Prime Minister on January 21st, 2010.