Lieutenant Toumba who escaped since the day he attempted to kill the junta leader Moussa Dadis Camara on December 3rd in Conakry, accuses his boss of being the instigator of the bloody crackdown of 28 September in an interview broadcasted by RFI on Wednesday.

In this telephone conversation with a journalist from Radio France International, Abubakar Sidiki Diakite, alias Toumba, provides for the first time his version of events that led him to shoot at Captain Moussa Dadis Camara.

Officially, he "rests" in Morocco, in the clinic of the Royal Military Hospital Mohammed V in Rabat, after having been operated "on the head. But Guineans wonder about his true state of health, he has not made any statement or appearance.

"I shot him because at one point there was complete betrayal (...) to me," says Toumba the former commander of the presidential guard, essentially accusing Dadis of wanting him to "bear the full responsibility for the stadium crackdown, on September 28.

That day, the defense forces and security had beaten, stabbed, shot and killed opponents of the military regime gathered in the biggest stadium in Conakry. At least 150 Guineans were killed, according to the UN. Several dozen women were raped with extreme brutality by soldiers, according to various NGOs, arguing a balance of "1400" injured in total.

"I am in no way the instigator and organizer of this repression," insists Toumba. But many witnesses described him as the commander of the red berets (Presidential Guard) who fired at the crowd, beat and arrested opposition leaders.

Toumba explains that repression - "planned" - has been waged not only by the red berets but also by the army, police, gendarmerie and "250 recruits" of a military school "dressed in civilian clothes," equipped with" swords and who "have caused huge crackdown".

To the question "you say all these people had been sent directly by Dadis Camara?" Toumba replied: "absolutely."

The Lieutenant tries, however, to detract from his own responsibility in the killings and blamed mainly his deputy, Lieutenant Marcel Guilavogui.

"Individual responsibility I have taken it directly to save the leaders" of the opposition, "he says, ensuring even trying to calm the security forces.

According to testimonies collected by the media and NGOs, Toumba himself had beaten demonstrators, fired at people and let soldiers raping women.

He is now hidden in Guinea, according to reports gathered by the AFP.

"I do not intend to surrender, because they (the junta leaders) do not want the truth to be known. They prefer to kill me," he said.

According to the official account, the events of December 3rd were an "attempted coup" resulting from "a conspiracy".

A version contradicted by Toumba. "He (Dadis) came to fetch me at Koundara (military camp) with all his attendants with the intention of arresting me," said the aide. He added that he "fired" when Dadis’ Chief of operations was heading towards him with a weapon.

According to his version, Dadis was hit in the "neck, right side. But the aide denies having fired when his Dadis turned him back.

Two political Leaders confirm Toumba’s statement.
Two political leaders confirmed Toumba’s version on RFI. For Francis Louncény FALL, FUDECI Leader, they (the leaders) were arrested and taken to the clinic where Marcel Guilavogui, the nephew of Captain Dadis threatened to destroy the clinic where the opponents were maintained: "I think his mission was to arrest us and that's what he did," he added. He argues that Toumba did not hit them unlike Marcel Guilavogui. "I can say that in reality, he (Toumba) saved our lives because if we had not been extracted out of stadium by Toumba that day, I am sure we would have been killed."

Mouctar DIALLO also confirmed that they were arrested and taken to the clinic in the vehicle of ex-aide of Captain Dadis, Toumba Diakité. According to the leader of NFD: "When we were attacked by soldiers, policemen and gendarmes, Toumba Diakité has protected us from attacks by other soldiers. He led us into his car, he has to instruct a military to keep us and after he returned to take us and lead us to the clinic Ambrose PARRE to take the first medical cares. This was prevented by the nephew of Dadis, Marcel, who has even threatened to explode a grenade in the clinic. In all cases I can say Toumba has participated to save our life."
Asked whether he saw him shooting, Mouctar DIALLO said:" I believe that given the circumstances, we could not see everything. I did not see him shooting but I can not say he did not shoot."

Guinean authorities are actively looking for Toumba DIAKITE while Dadis is still in Rabat for his cares. They even promised to give a house and 200 million GNF to anybody helps to arrest Toumba. Toumba is in wanted.

Observers accuse the junta to take advantage of this situation to continue the intimidation and killings.


Mamadou Dian Donghol Diallo
The africanews reporter in Conakry.