By: Pace International Law Review Editorial Staff

Guinea’s new regime has been under fire in recent weeks due to violence against civilians perpetrated by the military. Neighboring West African nations and the African Union condemn Captain Moussa Dadis Camara’s National Council for Democracy and Development for failing to end the violence.
At least 157 people were killed by government security forces at an opposition rally on September 28, 2009 in the Guinean capital of Conakry according to rights groups and opposition group Union of Republican Forces. French officials have accused Captain Camara of being instrumental in the decision to fire on protestors of his regime. Witnesses to the incident claimed that they saw soldiers raping women in broad daylight. The incident occurred in a stadium; many of the deaths were caused by trampling due to panicked crowds. Moreover, a Red Cross source has indicated that the bodies of protestors were not sent to morgues but rather to the National Council for Democracy and Development’s headquarters. The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon denounced the excessive use of force and said he was “shocked by the loss of life, the high number of people injured and the destruction of property.” Meanwhile, the United States Secretary of State Hilary Clinton indicated that Washington is appalled and outraged by the violence is will pursue “appropriate actions” against Guinean military leaders.
Captain Camara seized control of Guinea hours after the death of long-time Guinean leader Lansana Conte´ last December.