In brief
Devastating scenes unfolded at a football match in Guinea's second-largest city, N'zérékoré, as a crowd crush led to numerous fatalities and injuries.
Prime Minister Mamadou Oury Bah confirmed the incident, which erupted after tensions flared between rival fans. Local reports indicate that the situation escalated due to a controversial refereeing decision, causing supporters from the visiting Labé team to storm the pitch in protest. Eyewitness accounts describe a chaotic scene as crowds attempted to escape; one doctor reported numerous bodies lined up in a local hospital, with the morgue reaching capacity.The unrest prompted police to use tear gas in an attempt to disperse the angry crowd. Official casualty figures remain unverified, but the local media is reporting significant losses. “It all started with a contested decision by the referee. Then fans invaded the pitch,” recounted a witness.In the aftermath of the tragedy, authorities are striving to restore calm, assuring that hospitals are treating the injured from the incident. Thousands were in attendance for the match, which was part of a tournament dedicated to President Mamadi Doumbouya, who took power following a coup in 2021.The horrors of past atrocities in Guinea's stadiums loom large, recalling the 2009 massacre where 156 people were killed during a violent crackdown on protesters in Conakry. This persistent history of tragic events within the nation's sporting venues raises urgent calls for improved safety measures to protect fans at public events.
