The trial for the massacre at the Conakry stadium called its sixth witness to the stand. Ansoumane Kaba, who held the position of Chief of Staff of the Army on September 28, 2009, claimed he learned about the killings by listening to the radio, despite his high-ranking responsibilities. This version left the court perplexed.
Considerable frustration filled the courtroom on Tuesday at the Dixinn Criminal Court. After swearing “to tell the whole truth, nothing but the truth,” Ansoumane Kaba provided a brief account. The general spoke for just 30 seconds, stating, “On September 28, 2009, I was at my desk; I did not leave, following the given instructions to confine all military personnel. That’s all I can say (…) That’s it.”
The presiding judge, Ibrahima Sory 2 Tounkara, began his questioning. However, impatience quickly set in: “The witness, please, the witness, he is the one who saw, as I told you at the outset, and he is obligated to testify; it is an obligation.”
Ansoumane Kaba remained silent. He claimed to have learned about the September 28, 2009 massacre through the radio. This response did not satisfy the lawyers representing the civil parties: “There was a collective resignation from the entire army and all security services regarding the September 28 massacre. What did you do to stop the massacre that day?” “I have no answer to that question. There was a collective resignation.” The trial and Ansoumane Kaba’s testimony are set to continue on Wednesday morning.