Gunmen have stormed the main prison in Guinea’s capital, Conakry, and freed former dictator, Moussa “Dadis” Camara, according to the country’s justice minister.

Announcing the closure of Guinea’s borders, Justice Minister, Charles Alphonse Wright said Mr Camara escaped early on Saturday.

The announcement came several hours after heavy gunfire erupted in the Kaloum district of Conakry.

Among the others who escaped were Claude Pivi and Blaise Goumou, Mr Wright said.

During his brief reign as military head of state, the-then Captain Camara, after ousting the previous government in a coup in 2008, was arrested in relation to a stadium shooting that claimed the lives of some 157 anti-government protesters.

Mr Camara is one of more than a dozen suspects who were charged in connection with the 2009 massacre, when Guinean security forces fired upon the peaceful demonstrators who were protesting against his intention to run for president after seizing power.

For years, Guinea’s government had sought to prevent Mr Camara’s homecoming from exile in Burkina Faso, fearing it could stoke political instability.

However, another coup in September, 2021, put a military junta in power in Guinea that was more amenable to his return.