Moussa Dadis Camara

Moussa Dadis Camara is married to Jeanne Saba. Together they have four children.

The military leader spoke five languages: Kpelle, Susu, Maninka, German and French. Although he was born Muslim, the former President later converted to Christianity. He is a member of the Kpelle ethnic group, one of the three principal groups in Guinea

Moussa Dadis Camara was born on January 1, 1964 in Koure, Guinea. He attended both primary and secondary school in Nzerekore. As a child, Moussa sold kola nuts in the street to earn money.

In 1982, Camara enrolled at ‘Abdel Nasser University’ in Conakry. He later graduated with a degree in law and economics.

In 1990, the law graduate enrolled in the army. He was given the rank of corporal and was eventually appointed as the Chief of Fuels at an army base in Kindia.

In 2001, the military chief participated in a United Nations peacekeeping mission in nearby Sierra Leone.

In 2004, the President of Guinea handpicked Camara, as well as other Guinean soldiers, to report to Germany for 18 months of advanced military training.

In February 2007, Moussa helped organize a mutiny. He was later promoted to the rank of captain, the highest rank he would ever achieve.

In November 2008, he was appointed head of fuel supplies for the Guinean Army. Later in the year, he became one of the leading mutineers during an attempted coup, commonly referred to as the 'Christmas Coup'.

Moussa Dadis Camara was the President of Guinea from December 24, 2008 to December 3, 2009. Though his tenure was marred by political turmoil, he won the support of people when he ordered a crackdown on the drug traffickers in his country.