A tragedy unfolded at a soccer stadium in Nzerekore, Guinea, resulting in the loss of 56 lives, as reported by the government of Guinea.
Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah disclosed on X that the tragic stampede occurred during a local soccer tournament final that honored Guinea’s military leader, Mamadi Doumbouya, who came to power following a coup in 2021. The final match was between teams from Nzerekore and Labe.
Reports indicate that the chaos erupted when fans started throwing stones, triggering panic among spectators and resulting in a stampede. A witness told Reuters that the situation escalated due to a disputed red card and the aggressive police response.
Describing the horrific scene, eyewitness Amara Conde recounted, “The stone throwing started and the police joined in, firing tear gas. In the rush and scramble that followed, I saw people fall to the ground, girls and children trampled underfoot. It was horrible.”
Prime Minister Bah condemned the violence in his post on X and urged for calm in Nzerekore to facilitate medical assistance to the injured. According to the Associated Press, Bah announced that an official investigation is underway.