Dozens of people have died in a stampede following violent clashes at a football match in Nzerekore, Guinea’s second-largest city, Al Jazeera reports.
The incident, which occurred on Sunday afternoon, unfolded after a controversial refereeing decision sparked outrage among fans.
While the exact death toll remains unclear, with figures ranging from several dozen to around 100 according to medical sources cited by AFP, the violence has cast a grim shadow over the nation. Health officials are still compiling casualty reports.
The match, part of a tournament organized in honour of Guinea’s military leader and self-proclaimed President, Mamady Doumbouya, pitted local team Nzerekore against visiting team Labe. Following a disputed refereeing call, Labe supporters reportedly began throwing stones onto the pitch, prompting police intervention with tear gas. This escalated into widespread clashes, culminating in a deadly stampede.
Following the violence, angry demonstrators reportedly vandalized and set fire to the Nzerekore police station, further highlighting the volatile situation. Guinean Prime Minister Bah Oury condemned the violence on X (formerly Twitter), urging calm and promising a full government statement once all information is gathered.
The tournament itself has become a point of contention. Guinea’s National Alliance for Alternation and Democracy (ANAD), an opposition coalition, strongly criticized the event, denouncing it as an attempt by Doumbouya to bolster his controversial candidacy in next year’s presidential election.
Doumbouya seized power in a 2021 coup, ousting President Alpha Conde. Despite international pressure to return the country to civilian rule by the end of 2024, he has refused to step down, instead promoting himself through the ranks to the position of army general. His regime has been marked by a crackdown on dissent, with numerous opposition figures detained, prosecuted, or forced into exile.
While a “transitional charter” initially barred military personnel from running for office, recent pronouncements from Doumbouya’s supporters indicate a clear intention for him to contest the election, potentially scheduled for 2025. This blatant disregard for the charter further fuels political tensions within the nation.
