Colonel Claude Pivi, who was sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in Guinea's 2009 stadium massacre, has been apprehended in Liberia.

According to AFP, Colonel Claude Pivi, who was Guinea’s most wanted fugitive following his conviction in August for crimes against humanity related to the 2009 massacre, has been arrested in Liberia, as confirmed by his lawyer to AFP on Wednesday.

Abdourahmane Dabo, Pivi’s lawyer, stated, "Based on the information we have received and additional details from the country where he was apprehended, we can now confirm that he is in the custody of the Liberian authorities." However, specific details regarding the circumstances and date of Pivi’s arrest by Liberian police remain unclear, as neither the Liberian nor Guinean authorities have issued formal statements.

Dansa Kourouma, head of Guinea’s National Transitional Council, which has governed the country since 2021, confirmed to French broadcaster RFI that Pivi had indeed been arrested in Liberia.

Dabo, while confirming Pivi’s arrest, expressed concern for his client’s well-being, stating, "I have not had direct communication with the colonel," and urged the authorities to "ensure that his rights are respected," noting that Pivi is reportedly "sick."

Pivi had been on the run for ten months following his escape from Conakry Central Jail in November 2023. His fugitive status had left a lingering threat for survivors and families of victims from the September 28, 2009 massacre. Fatoumata Diariou Camara, a victim of the violence, expressed relief, saying, "I'm overjoyed. I pray that he will remain in prison forever."

The 2009 massacre at Conakry Stadium resulted in the deaths of at least 156 people, who were killed by gunfire, knives, machetes, or bayonets. The violence, which targeted an opposition rally, left hundreds more injured. According to a UN-mandated international commission of inquiry, at least 109 women were raped, and subsequent days saw further abuses, including kidnappings and torture. The massacre is considered one of the darkest episodes in West African history.

In August, Pivi was sentenced to life imprisonment for crimes against humanity. The trial related to the massacre, which began in 2022, included former military junta leader Moussa Dadis Camara and two other men who had escaped prison with Pivi, along with several other former government officials. On November 4, 2023, Pivi escaped along with three other detainees, including Camara. While the others were recaptured on the same day, Pivi had remained at large until his recent arrest.

Authorities have offered a significant reward for information leading to Pivi's capture. In July, Camara was found guilty of crimes against humanity and sentenced to 20 years in prison.