City: Nzerekore, Guinea
A catastrophic stampede at a stadium in Nzerekore, Guinea, resulted in the tragic deaths of 56 people following a violent dispute during a football match. The incident occurred during a tournament final honoring Guinea’s military leader, Mamady Doumbouya. The conflict, triggered by a controversial refereeing decision, led to fan violence, with stones being thrown and panic spreading. Videos showed desperate people scrambling over stadium walls in an attempt to escape. The authorities have promised a full investigation into the incident, and early reports suggest many of the victims were minors, with some parents even retrieving bodies before official counts. Amid the chaos, police used tear gas, worsening the situation.
Opposition groups have criticized the government for hosting such events, accusing them of political exploitation, as they violate the transition charter meant to lead to a promised election. This incident underscores the dangerous consequences of poor crowd control and the politicization of public events.
