In brief
Dozens have lost their lives following a stampede during a football match in Guinea's N'zérékoré, with local media reporting chaos and violence as discontent among fans erupted.
The heartbreaking event unfolded during a Guinean football match, where clashes led to a crush resulting in numerous casualties. According to local reports, Prime Minister Mamadou Oury Bah confirmed the incident occurred on Sunday, urging calm among the distraught crowd. A doctor at a nearby hospital, preferring to remain anonymous, stated that the morgue has reached its capacity with lines of deceased individuals.Eyewitness accounts described a build-up of tensions after the referee made a controversial call, triggering fans of the visiting Labé team to storm the pitch. Witnesses shared disturbing footage on social media, depicting chaotic scenes with crowds desperately trying to escape, alongside horrifying visuals of bodies on the ground, though these have not been independently verified.Prime Minister Bah acknowledged the police’s use of tear gas in a bid to manage the situation, while regional authorities are now focused on restoring order. The event, reportedly attended by a large crowd, was a part of a tournament meant to honor President Mamadi Doumbouya, who came to power through a coup in 2021.The tragedy recalls a darker period in Guinea's history— the 2009 stadium massacre where 156 people lost their lives as military forces responded violently to an anti-government rally. Recently, former military leader Moussa Dadis Camara was sentenced to 20 years for his role in those crimes. The country is left grappling with the aftermath of yet another devastating incident in a place meant to unite and celebrate.
