At least 56 individuals have lost their lives following violent confrontations during a football match that resulted in a stampede in N’Zerekore, Guinea’s second-largest city, as reported by the government.
According to a government statement released on Monday via a news ticker on national television, “Protests stemming from dissatisfaction with refereeing decisions led to supporters throwing stones, culminating in fatal stampedes” during the match on Sunday. Hospital services have indicated a provisional death toll of 56.
The unrest erupted during a Sunday afternoon match in N’Zerekore, a city with a population of 200,000, where rival fans invaded the field in response to a contentious referee decision, as reported by africa24hrs.
Earlier reports from health officials, cited by the AFP news agency, suggested that the death toll was in the dozens. A doctor described the scene, stating, “There are bodies lined up as far as the eye can see in the hospital. Others are lying on the floor in the hallways. The morgue is full.”
Guinea’s Prime Minister Bah Oury denounced the violence and called for calm in a statement shared on X on Sunday. He indicated that the government would provide a formal announcement once all relevant information had been collected.
The unrest erupted when supporters of the visiting team, Labe, threw stones onto the field in response to a controversial referee decision, leading the police to use tear gas, as reported by local news outlet Media Guinee.
Subsequently, enraged protesters vandalized and set fire to the N’Zerekore police station, according to africa24hrs. A witness recounted, “It all began with a disputed call by the referee, which led to fans storming the pitch,” as reported by africa24hrs.
Africa24hrs has reported that the match was part of a tournament held in honor of Guinea’s military leader, Mamady Doumbouya, who came to power through a coup in 2021 and has since declared himself president.
Such events have become increasingly frequent in the West African country as Doumbouya considers a potential candidacy in the upcoming presidential election, expected next year.
The National Alliance for Alternation and Democracy (ANAD), a coalition of opposition parties in Guinea, condemned the tournament, labeling it a maneuver to promote Doumbouya’s “illegal and inappropriate candidacy.”
Doumbouya took control by force in September 2021, ousting President Alpha Conde, who had appointed the then-colonel to lead an elite unit responsible for safeguarding the president against coups.
Despite facing international pressure, Doumbouya has committed to returning power to a civilian government by the end of 2024, although he has since indicated that he may not follow through on this promise.
Guinea’s Prime Minister Bah Oury
