At least 56 people were killed during a catastrophic stampede at a football stadium in Nzerekore, Guinea, following clashes between opposing fans on December 1, 2024. The incident occurred during the final match of a local tournament, which was reportedly organized to honor the country's military leader, General Mamadi Doumbouya.
The chaos unfolded shortly before the conclusion of the match between the Labé team and their rivals, the Nzerekore team. Tensions escalated when Labé fans expressed dissatisfaction with the refereeing decisions, particularly after one of their team members received a red card, which angered the supporters. The Labé fans began throwing stones onto the pitch, prompting the authorities to intervene with teargas. This action created pandemonium among the spectators, leading to the deadly stampede.
Bishop Raphaël Balla Guilavogui, the president of the Episcopal Conference of Guinea, confirmed to reporters, "When the players turned against the referee, fans began throwing stones inside the stadium. The police, to contain the unrest, used tear gas, which triggered panic among the spectators, resulting in the stampede.”
Witness accounts described horrific scenes as people attempted to flee the stadium, with reports of bodies strewn across the ground, overwhelming local hospitals. Eyewitnesses recounted the horrifying chaos: "There are bodies lined up as far as the eye can see... The morgue is full," stated one doctor highlighting the grim reality faced by medical personnel.
The toll reported by various local media sources indicated the death count might be higher than initially stated, with some estimates reaching up to 100 fatalities. Amadou Oury Bah, the prime minister of Guinea, announced three days of national mourning beginning Tuesday and urged the public to remain calm as investigations commenced to determine the circumstances leading to the tragedy.
Hospital sources have warned of additional casualties, with many wounded individuals reported to be critically injured, intensifying fears of the toll rising as services work tirelessly to stabilize the situation. "We are overwhelmed; many are seriously hurt, and we just don't have the capacity to handle it all right now," added another health official.
This tragic event has stirred outrage and calls for accountability within the government, with several political groups demanding inquiries not only about the stadium disaster but also about the conditions surrounding the tournament's organization. Local political alliances have expressed discontent over the festival-like atmosphere, asserting it served more as political propaganda than community engagement.
The football match itself was meant to be part of a series of tournaments purportedly organized to galvanize support for the military junta, which has been attempting to bolster its legitimacy following the coup d'état led by Doumbouya, which claimed President Alpha Condé’s leadership. Despite the calendar for elections being pushed back to next year, the ruling junta's association with sporting events has been suspect, reflecting efforts to solidify political control.
The use of tear gas, often criticized for its quick deployment and wide area of effect, has faced sharp scrutiny from both the public and pundits, who argue it exacerbates already tense situations, especially at large public gatherings. Following the incident, public sentiment has turned against the authorities, with people voicing fears about the safety at public gatherings and the management of such events.
Guinea is no stranger to stadium-related violence. The country previously witnessed the 2009 Conakry stadium massacre where 156 people lost their lives during protests against the military government at the time. This history of violence raises alarms about inadequate crowd control measures and the preparedness of emergency response mechanisms at large public events.
Social media footage captured the pandemonium outside the stadium, with images displaying chaotic crowd movement, screams, and cries for help. Local authorities are currently attempting to navigate through the wreckage left behind both physically and emotionally, as families mourn lost loved ones and grapple with the traumatic impact of the event.
“Our country needs to learn from such tragedies and take decisive action to prevent them in the future,” stated one local leader, emphasizing the urgency for reform and improvements for crowd safety at public events.
The aftermath remains fraught with tension, and as Guinea moves through its period of mourning, the path forward calls for inquiries, accountability, and hopefully, actionable reforms aimed at safeguarding citizens during future public events. There will undoubtedly be many voices calling for justice not just for the victims but also for changes to policies surrounding large public gatherings moving forward.