Conakry, December 2, 2024-A stampede at a football match in Guinea’s city of N’Zerekore claimed at least 56 lives, with dozens more injured, the government confirmed on Monday. The match was part of a tournament honoring junta leader General Mamady Doumbouya, who seized power in a 2021 coup.
Chaos erupted after controversial refereeing decisions, including player expulsions and a penalty, led fans to invade the pitch. Security forces used tear gas to control the situation, triggering panic and a deadly stampede as people scrambled to escape. Witnesses described harrowing scenes of people trampled and crushed in the overcrowded, dilapidated stadium.
The government blamed the stampede on “protests over refereeing decisions” and announced an inquiry to identify those responsible. Junta leader Doumbouya expressed condolences, deployed an emergency mission, and called for calm in the politically volatile nation.
Critics, including the opposition group FNDC, accused the junta of exploiting sports for political gain, linking the tragedy to poor planning and overcrowding. Former President Alpha Conde condemned the incident, calling it a result of “irresponsible organization.”
The stampede recalls Guinea’s tragic 2009 crackdown at a Conakry stadium, which left over 150 dead. Public events have increased in recent weeks, seen as part of a campaign to bolster Doumbouya’s potential presidential ambitions, despite international pressure for a civilian government by 2024.
