By Kemo Cham
Ten months after his dramatic escape from prison, the fugitive Guinean army colonel, Claude Pivi has been arrested in neighbouring Liberia.
Reports indicate that he was detained by Liberian security forces on Tuesday. The circumstances leading to his arrest are still unclear, as there have been no official statement on it from either government.
Pivi fled Guinea after heavily armed security men on November 4, 2023, stormed the country’s maximum security prison in the capital Conakry, where he was being held alongside former members of the junta headed by Captain Moussa Dadis Camara. They were on trial for the massacre of unarmed civilians at a Conakry stadium in 2009.
At least nine people lost their lives in the prison attack, and several others were injured, according to the office of the Prosecutor General. It was rumoured at the time that the attackers had gone to free Dadis, which the former head of state denied after surrendering himself hours after going into hiding.
Also in the facility at the time was Col. Thiegboro Camara and Aboubacar Diakité. All of them eventually surrendered, except Pivi.
They were part of a group of 12 people prosecuted for crimes against humanity for the infamous September 28 massacre of over 150 civilians who were protesting against junta rule.
The trial concluded in July this year, after nearly two years of hearing, with the conviction of eight of the accused, including Dadis, Thiegboro, Diakité and Pivi. But Col Pivi received the highest sentence of life imprisonment, with a 25-year probation period.
Pivi was considered the most wanted person in the case. This is because as Minister of Presidential Security at the time of the incident, he is found to have been personally involved in the massacres.
Dadis received 20 years in jail.
An arrest warrant was issued against Pivi by the court in Conakry following the verdict. The government even announced a 50,000 Euro reward for information leading to his arrest.
The attack on the prison is reported to have been led by Col Pivi’s son, Verney Pivi. He is still at large.
Claude Pivi was reportedly arrested at an area in Liberia close to the Forest Region of Guinea, where he hails from and controls immense influence.
Pivi is problematic for the Guinean authorities given his experience in war. He is known to have provided security for former Liberian President Charles Taylor while he was rebel leader.
Guinean authorities are expected to request for Col. Pivi’s extradition, given that there is an arrest warrant on him.
