Guinea has entered a three-day period of national mourning following a devastating stadium tragedy in Nzérékoré that left at least 56 people dead. Prime Minister Oury Bah announced the mourning period, during which flags will be flown at half-mast in honor of the victims. However, some local reports suggest the death toll may be closer to 100, adding to the grief and uncertainty surrounding the incident.
The tragedy unfolded at the Stade du 3 Avril during a football match that was part of a tournament honoring President Mamady Doumbouya. The event, organized to bolster Doumbouya’s leadership ahead of the country’s upcoming elections, has drawn criticism from opposition groups who accuse the government of using it as a political tool.
The stadium, with a capacity significantly smaller than the estimated 20,000 to 30,000 fans in attendance, became a scene of chaos after a series of contentious referee decisions. Tensions flared when two players from the visiting team, Labé, were sent off, followed by a controversial penalty call.
Violence erupted as fans threw stones at the referee, prompting police to respond with tear gas. The resulting stampede turned deadly, overwhelming the unfinished stadium, which lacks basic infrastructure like completed stands and proper exits. Renovation efforts on the stadium began in 2008 but were halted due to political instability, leaving it ill-equipped to handle large crowds.
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President Doumbouya, who seized power in a 2021 coup, expressed his “profound sadness and outrage” over the tragedy, calling for accountability. Prime Minister Bah announced an official inquiry into the incident to identify those responsible and extended condolences to the victims’ families.
This disaster has reignited debates about Guinea’s preparedness to host large-scale events. The country is currently barred from hosting international football matches by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) due to substandard facilities, a ban it shares with several other African nations.
As Guinea mourns, the tragedy highlights the broader challenges facing the nation, including infrastructure deficiencies and political tensions. Opposition leaders have criticized the government’s handling of the event, calling it a failure in both organization and public safety.
The inquiry’s findings and the government’s response will be closely watched as the nation grapples with the aftermath of a catastrophe that has shaken its people to the core.
