Tragedy Strikes Guinea Football Match: At Least 56 Dead in Stampede
A horrific stampede at a football match in Guinea has left at least 56 people dead and many more injured, igniting a political firestorm as the opposition accuses the military-led government of responsibility. The tragic incident occurred during a cup final in N’Zerekore dedicated to junta leader General Mamadi Doumbouya, who seized power in a 2021 coup.
Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah, dispatched to the scene by Doumbouya, announced three days of official mourning starting Tuesday, with national flags to be flown at half mast. “As the nation is in mourning today,” he stated solemnly.
The chaos unfolded on Sunday as tensions escalated late in the match between N’Zerekore and visiting team Labe. After two red cards and a controversial penalty decision, frustrated fans stormed the pitch. Initial reports suggested fan clashes, but eyewitness accounts described a scene of sheer panic. “Panic quickly set in, leading to an uncontrollable stampede,” one witness recounted, noting that many were trampled in the chaos.
Witnesses described how officials, including two ministers, were trapped in the stadium as stone-throwing and tear gas created a volatile environment. “The thousands of people at the stadium were gripped by panic and fear. It was every man for himself,” a local official said anonymously.
The match was part of a tournament held in honor of Doumbouya, and the opposition has accused the junta of politicizing sports for its own gain. Videos circulated on social media show the overcrowded stadium and chaotic scenes as people desperately sought to escape. Local media reported that hospitals and morgues in N’Zerekore were overwhelmed with casualties.
In a statement read on national television, the government referred to the incident as a “tragic event,” attributing the stampede to protests over refereeing decisions. “Hospital services have put the provisional death toll at 56, with several others injured,” they reported.
Doumbouya has vowed to establish a commission of inquiry to investigate the causes of the tragedy and determine responsibility. “The government is doing everything possible to respond to this tragic event,” he stated on social media, calling for calm in a nation still grappling with political instability.
The international community is watching closely, recalling the 2009 stadium massacre where government forces killed at least 156 during an opposition rally. Guinea has seen a resurgence of public gatherings recently, viewed as a campaign strategy for Doumbouya’s potential presidential bid amidst promises to return to civilian rule by the end of 2024.
Former President Alpha Conde expressed “profound sadness and boundless outrage,” highlighting the need for better organization in such events. The tragedy has sparked outrage from the National Front for the Defence of the Constitution (FNDC), which holds the junta directly accountable for the loss of innocent lives.
