02.12.2024 16:11
A tragedy at a football match in Guinea: hundreds of people died in a stampede
On December 1, a terrible tragedy occurred during a football match between the teams of N'Zerekore and Labe in the second largest city of N'Zerekore in Guinea. Dozens of people died in the stampede that followed the referee's controversial ruling, with some reports putting the death toll at over 100.
Chronology of events
The tragedy began with a series of controversial decisions by the referee, which caused outrage from fans. Witnesses said that some fans ran onto the field and created chaos. As spectators tried to climb over the barriers and leave the stadium, the jam grew even more.
The number of victims
According to official data, the number of dead remains unknown. Local media reported that "dozens of people, including children, were killed." According to unconfirmed reports, the number of victims may exceed 100.
The attitude of the authorities
The Prime Minister of Guinea, Bach Ouri, expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and called for calm. He emphasized the need to provide medical services to help the victims.
The meeting took place within the tournament organized in honor of the head of the Guinean military junta, Mamadi Dumbuya. Dumbuya came to power in 2021 by overthrowing the then president Alpha Conde in a coup d'état. He continues to be president despite his announcements of a transition of power to a civilian government in 2024.
The tragedy once again focused attention on Guinea's internal problems. With more than 86 percent of the population being Muslim, this West African country is rich in natural resources. Despite this, Guinea remains one of the poorest countries in the world. Mamadi Dumbuya, who served in the French Legion, came to power in a coup in 2021. During his reign, the crackdown on the opposition intensified: many opposition leaders were arrested, prosecuted or forced into exile.
International human rights organizations have already expressed concern over the incident and called on Guinean authorities to conduct an independent investigation.
