Guinea: Colonel Claude Pivi extradited back to Conakry after nearly a year on the run

Colonel Claude Pivi, a key figure implicated in Guinea’s tragic September 28, 2009 massacre, has been extradited back to Conakry following his arrest in Liberia after nearly a year on the run.

The former presidential security minister, who was sentenced in absentia to life imprisonment, is now back in custody in Guinea.

Pivi was arrested in Liberia on 17 September 2024, ending a near year-long international manhunt.

His return brings renewed attention to one of Guinea’s darkest chapters and signifies a major step in the long quest for justice.

A National Tragedy Remembered

The events of 28 September 2009 are seared into Guinea’s collective memory.

On that fateful day, over 50,000 people gathered for a peaceful protest against the military junta led by Moussa Dadis Camara at Conakry’s national stadium.

The protest turned into a massacre, with 157 people killed, according to a United Nations investigation. In addition, 109 women were subjected to brutal sexual violence, while many others were tortured, injured, or disappeared without a trace.

At the time, Claude Pivi was responsible for presidential security. He was later found guilty of crimes against humanity, including orchestrating the violent crackdown.

During a historic trial that began on 28 September 2022, Pivi received the harshest sentence: life imprisonment with a minimum of 25 years.

A Dramatic Escape and International Pursuit

Pivi’s dramatic escape from Conakry’s central prison on 4 November 2023, along with two other prominent junta figures, Moussa Dadis Camara and Moussa Thiegboro Camara, shocked the nation and cast doubt on Guinea’s prison security.

While his fellow escapees surrendered soon after, Pivi managed to evade capture, triggering an international manhunt.

Described as one of the most powerful men in the former regime, Pivi was finally caught during a routine inspection in Liberia nearly a year after his escape.

Photos of his arrest, where he appeared in civilian clothes, circulated widely on social media, quashing the many rumors surrounding his fate.

Swift Extradition and Political Impact

Following his capture, Claude Pivi was swiftly extradited to Guinea on 17 September 2024, thanks to close cooperation between Liberian and Guinean security forces.

He was immediately returned to Conakry’s central prison to serve his life sentence. According to Conakry’s military prosecutor, his arrest marks the conclusion of a nearly year-long chase.

However, some have approached the news with caution. Pivi’s lawyer, in a statement to RFI, has yet to officially confirm his client’s arrest and extradition.

Nevertheless, the development has reverberated across Guinea’s political landscape.

Justice and National Reconciliation

The re-incarceration of Claude Pivi could have significant repercussions for both Guinea’s judiciary and its political stability.

On one hand, it demonstrates the government’s commitment to holding those responsible for the 2009 massacre accountable, and on the other, it signals that Guinea’s path toward justice and reconciliation is ongoing.

Human rights organizations and the families of the victims hope this arrest will further the fight against impunity in Guinea.

The trial for the September 28 massacre has been a turning point for justice in the country, and with Pivi back behind bars, there is renewed hope that closure may finally be within reach.