Dozens of people have died in a stampede following clashes at a football match in Guinea’s second-largest city, N’zérékoré, after clashes erupted between fans and security forces, local media reported.
Prime Minister Mamadou Oury Bah confirmed the incident on Sunday and urged the public to remain calm as regional authorities work to stabilize the situation, according to BBC.
One unnamed doctor told AFP news agency that there were several bodies “lined up” in the local hospital, and the morgue was full.
Eyewitnesses reported that the stampede began after supporters of the visiting team, Labé, protested a contentious referee decision during the match against the home team, N’zérékoré. Enraged fans stormed the pitch, prompting police to fire tear gas in an attempt to disperse the crowd.
Local media said police used tear gas after supporters of the visiting team, Labé, threw stones towards the pitch in anger at the referee.So far no official casualty figures have been given.
“It all started with a contested decision by the referee. Then fans invaded the pitch,” one witness told AFP.
The match was part of a regional tournament held in honor of President Mamadi Doumbouya, who assumed power following a coup in September 2021.
The tragedy has reignited memories of Guinea’s darkest stadium disaster in 2009, when 156 people were killed during a violent crackdown on an opposition rally in the capital, Conakry. Security forces opened fire on protesters, leading to a stampede, while scores of women were subjected to sexual violence. Former military ruler Moussa Dadis Camara was recently sentenced to 20 years in prison for crimes against humanity linked to the massacre.
