General Diarra Camara was a senior Guinean officer who made his mark on his country's military history as the last Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces under President Lansana Conté's regime until December 2008. Originally from Balladou, a village near Macenta in the forest region, he distinguished himself through his loyalty, discretion, and professionalism during a military career spanning more than four decades. Following the CNDD coup after Conté's death, he was forced into retirement and then arrested in 2009 as part of a campaign against drug trafficking, before being provisionally released in 2010.
Rehabilitated in 2022 by General Mamadi Doumbouya, who appointed him to the National Order of Merit Council, he was the father of General Amara Camara, the current Secretary General of the Presidency of the Guinean Republic. Described as a humble, wise, and unifying man who respected traditional and religious values, General Diarra Camara died on February 9, 2024, in Tunis, leaving behind a widow and seven children, as well as the image of an upright officer who served his nation with dedication despite political upheavals.
Introduction
General Diarra Camara, an iconic figure in the Guinean army and the last Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces under President Lansana Conté's regime, left his mark on Guinea's military history through his loyalty, dedication, and professionalism. His life, marked by moments of glory as well as difficult trials, bears witness to the political upheavals that this West African country has experienced over recent decades.
Origins and Roots
Originally from Balladou, a village located about 12 kilometers from Macenta in the forest region of Guinea, Diarra Camara was deeply rooted in the culture and traditions of the Konia community. This connection with his origins shaped his personality and values throughout his life. His family was respected in the region, and he always maintained close ties with his community of origin, even at the height of his military career.
An Exemplary Military Career
General Diarra Camara's military career spanned more than four decades in service to the Republic of Guinea. Known for his professionalism, discretion, and unwavering loyalty, he gradually climbed the ranks of the military hierarchy to reach the summit of the Guinean army.
The pinnacle of his career came when he was appointed Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces under the presidency of General Lansana Conté, a position he held until the latter's death in December 2008. In this strategic role, he distinguished himself as an "affable, quiet, and very loyal" officer, according to the testimonies of his collaborators.
The Fall and Trials
General Diarra Camara's career took a brutal turn with the military coup of December 23, 2008, the day after President Lansana Conté's death. The National Council for Democracy and Development (CNDD), led by Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, seized power and abruptly ended his functions by forcing him into retirement.
General Diarra's trials did not end there. In February-March 2009, as part of a vast campaign against drug trafficking launched by the military junta, he was arrested along with several other high-ranking military and police officials. Initially detained at Camp Alpha Yaya Diallo, the junta's headquarters, he was later transferred to the civilian prison in Conakry.
These accusations came in a context where Guinea had become an important transit country for cocaine from South America to Europe. After more than a year of detention, on March 25, 2010, General Diarra Camara and six other officers were granted provisional release, with the justice system determining that "their place is not in a cell," according to their lawyer, Me Salifou Béavogui.
Rehabilitation and Final Years
After his release, General Diarra Camara chose to withdraw from public life, preferring to live discreetly rather than seeking public recognition of his innocence. This difficult period was marked by his resilience and dignity in the face of adversity.
The wheel of fate turned in his favor, however, with the rise to power of General Mamadi Doumbouya on September 5, 2021, following a new coup d'état. The new Guinean head of state, who held General Diarra in high esteem, undertook his rehabilitation by appointing him, on July 27, 2022, as a member of the National Order of Merit of the Grand Chancellery of Guinea, a position he would hold until his death.
This appointment testified to the recognition of the services rendered to the nation by this high-ranking officer and symbolically marked his return to grace. General Diarra Camara thus regained an honorable position within the institutions of the Republic.
Family Life and Legacy
General Diarra Camara was the father of seven children, including four daughters. Among his sons is General Amara Camara, who followed in his father's footsteps in a military career and currently holds the strategic position of Minister Secretary General of the Presidency of the Republic under General Mamadi Doumbouya's regime.
According to the testimonies of his close ones, notably Mamady Kemo Condé, his adopted son, General Diarra was a "model father" who "knew how to nurture and unite the whole family." He is described as a humble, wise, and benevolent man, "who did not want to make anyone cry" and "who did not want even the smallest sin in the family."
A Man of Values
The numerous tributes paid after his death unanimously depict General Diarra Camara as a man of principles and values. President Mamadi Doumbouya saluted him as "a valiant officer who served his Nation with dedication and patriotism."
Elhadj Sékou Legrow Camara, a relative and collaborator of the deceased, emphasized his patriotism and unifying spirit: "With courage and determination, General Diarra served the Guinean Nation with the utmost attention."
The president of the National Transition Council, Dr. Dansa Kourouma, spoke of a man who "defended, loved, and protected" Guinea, "for which he shed many drops of saliva and blood."
Final Moments and Funeral
General Diarra Camara passed away in the night from Thursday, February 8 to Friday, February 9, 2024, in Tunis, where he was hospitalized for medical care. His remains were repatriated to Guinea on Saturday, February 10.
His funeral, befitting the figure he was, mobilized numerous civil and military personalities. The funeral procession traveled to his native village of Balladou, about twelve kilometers from Macenta, where he received tributes worthy of a Traditional Chief of the Konia country.
The funeral prayer was led by the Grand Imam of the Fayçal Mosque in Conakry, El Hadj Mamadou Saliou Camara, who was keen to testify about "this military Chief who respected human and religious values." General Diarra Camara was buried within the confines of his native village's mosque, thus reaching his final resting place in the heart of the Guinean land he had served with selflessness throughout his life.
A Lasting Legacy
General Diarra Camara leaves behind the image of an upright and loyal officer who weathered with dignity the vicissitudes of Guinean political history. His exemplary military career and attachment to traditional values make him a respected figure in both military circles and Guinean civil society.
His son, General Amara Camara, carries on his legacy today by occupying important functions within the Guinean state. As Elhadj Sékou Legrow Camara emphasized, "the new generation must take his example of service as a model to follow and to prosper."
General Diarra Camara's journey illustrates the challenges and trials faced by high-ranking Guinean military officers through the political changes that occurred in the country. His unwavering loyalty to his superiors and his homeland, his resilience in the face of adversity, and his dignity in trials constitute an eloquent testimony to the values that guided his life and career.
