Guinea’s junta-controlled government reported on Monday that 56 people were killed in a stampede during a football match in Guinea’s second largest city, N’Jerekour. “There was a deadly stampede in Sunday’s game after a dispute between supporters expressing dissatisfaction with the referee’s decision,” National Television quoted a statement issued by the government as saying. “According to information provided by hospitals in Njerekor, the death toll so far has reached 56,” the statement said.
Prime Minister Amadou Ori Bah wrote a post on Facebook condemning the incident that disrupted the match between the teams of Labe and Njerekor. He said, “The government is investigating the incident. He is fully aware that the treatment of the injured and other assistance should not be hindered. The government calls upon all citizens to exercise restraint for peace.”
According to local media, the game was held in the southeastern city as part of a tournament organized in honor of Mamadi Doumboya, the leader of the Guinean junta who seized power in a coup d’état in 2021.
“This (a disputed penalty) angered supporters who threw stones,” Media Guinea reported. “This is how the security services used tear gas.”
Guinea Panorama reported the violence “quickly escalated, and scenes of panic invaded the stadium, while police used tear gas”.
Communications minister Fana Soumah, who spoke on television, said authorities are investigating to establish those responsible for the stampede.
