A crowd crush at a football match in Guinea has resulted in multiple casualties, as confirmed by the country's Prime Minister. The incident occurred during a match between the Labé and Nzérékoré teams in Nzérékoré, with distressing scenes captured in a social media video showing fans scrambling to escape a packed stadium.
Prime Minister Bah Oury expressed the government's sorrow over the incidents and stated that victims were recorded during the crowd crush. The government is closely monitoring the situation and has urged for calm to ensure that hospital services can provide necessary aid to the injured. City authorities have been instructed to restore social tranquility in the area.
While details of what transpired inside the stadium were not provided in Oury's statement, he mentioned that a comprehensive report would follow. Video footage from the scene depicted fans climbing a wall in a bid to flee the stadium in Nzérékoré, located in southeastern Guinea.
Reports on the exact number of casualties remain unclear. Local media outlets have indicated 'several deaths, including minors,' with an anonymous local doctor cited by a news agency suggesting there were dozens of fatalities. Allegedly, clashes between fans and security personnel erupted following refereeing decisions, leading to a stampede as spectators tried to exit the stadium.
According to local sources, the match was part of a tournament organized by Guinea's ruling military junta to endorse the candidacy of Mamady Doumbouya. Doumbouya, who assumed power in a 2021 coup and declared himself president, is reportedly considering a presidential bid in the upcoming 2025 elections. His rise to power reflects a broader trend in the region, with several figures seizing control since 2020.
The incident in Guinea adds to a series of political upheavals in West and Central Africa, where at least eight successful coups have taken place since 2020. The region's instability raises concerns about the potential shift towards military rule in a resource-rich yet economically challenged area.
