By : Lloyd Mahachi
A tragic incident has occurred in Guinea’s second-largest city, N’zérékoré. Dozens of people have died in a crush following clashes at a football match. Local media reports that the incident happened on Sunday.
Prime Minister Mamadou Oury Bah confirmed that a stampede at the event led to a number of victims. He called for calm and urged people to remain peaceful. A doctor, who did not want to be named, told AFP news agency that there were several bodies “lined up” in the local hospital.
The morgue was full, and medical staff were working to treat the injured. Local media reported that police used tear gas after supporters of the visiting team, Labé, threw stones towards the pitch in anger at the referee.
The incident started with a contested decision by the referee. Then, fans invaded the pitch, causing chaos and destruction. Videos and images on social media appear to show chaotic scenes outside the stadium.
Large crowds were attempting to climb over walls, and numerous bodies were seen on the ground. The BBC has not been able to independently verify these videos. Regional authorities are working to “restore calm”, Prime Minister Bah said in a statement.
Hospitals are aiding the injured, and medical staff are working to treat those affected. Thousands of spectators were present when the crush happened at a match between Guinean teams N’zérékoré and Labé.
The match was part of a tournament in honor of President Mamadi Doumbouya, who seized power in a coup in September 2021. This incident is not the first time a tragic event has occurred in a stadium in Guinea.
One of the worst massacres in Guinea’s history took place in a stadium in 2009. In that incident, 156 people were killed after troops opened fire at an opposition rally at a stadium in the capital, Conakry.
Many were shot, stabbed, beaten, or crushed in a stampede as security forces fired teargas and charged into the stadium. Scores of women were also raped. The incident was widely condemned, and it led to widespread outrage and protests.
The Guinean government has promised to investigate the latest incident and ensure that those responsible are held accountable. The international community is watching the situation closely, and there are calls for calm and restraint.
The incident is a tragic reminder of the importance of stadium safety and crowd control. It also highlights the need for security forces to exercise restraint and avoid using excessive force.
Editor : Josephine Mahachi
