56 killed in Guinea soccer stampede during military tribute tournament

Dec 02, 2024

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Craig Nigrelli Anchor

By Craig Nigrelli (Anchor), William Jackson (Producer), Kaleb Gillespie (Video Editor)

A stampede at a soccer match in southern Guinea left 56 people dead and several others injured, government officials confirmed. The tragedy occurred during the final of a tournament held to honor Guinea’s military leadership in Nzerekore, one of the country’s largest cities.

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The incident began Sunday, Dec. 1, after a disputed penalty led to clashes between fans. Stones were thrown, and security forces used tear gas, causing panic and a crush as spectators tried to escape. Footage shared online showed people scrambling over walls and victims, including children, lying on the ground.

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Authorities have launched an investigation to determine responsibility. Communications Minister Fana Soumah said regional officials are working to restore order. Several injured victims remain in critical condition at a local hospital.

The tournament, held in honor of Guinea’s military leader Mamadi Doumbouya, has drawn criticism from opposition groups.

The National Alliance for Alternation and Democracy accused the government of using the event to bolster political support ahead of a promised transition to civilian rule.

Guinea has been under military leadership since a 2021 coup ousted President Alpha Conde. The country joins other West African nations, including Mali and Burkina Faso, where military regimes have delayed transitions to civilian governance.

Doumbouya has defended the military’s rule, citing a need to prevent instability, while his government has faced criticism for unmet promises and rising tensions.

Tags: Africa, Guinea, Police violence, Soccer, Sports

[Craig Nigrelli]

FIFTY-SIX PEOPLE ARE DEAD, AND SEVERAL OTHERS INJURED AFTER A DEADLY STAMPEDE AT A SOCCER MATCH IN SOUTHERN GUINEA. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED DURING THE FINAL OF A TOURNAMENT HELD TO HONOR THE COUNTRY’S MILITARY LEADERSHIP.

THE CHAOS BEGAN AFTER A DISPUTED PENALTY ESCALATED INTO CLASHES BETWEEN FANS. STONES WERE THROWN, AND SECURITY FORCES RESPONDED WITH TEAR GAS, CAUSING PANIC AND A DEADLY CRUSH AS PEOPLE TRIED TO ESCAPE. FOOTAGE FROM THE SCENE SHOWS SPECTATORS SCRAMBLING OVER WALLS AND VICTIMS, INCLUDING CHILDREN, LYING ON THE GROUND.

AUTHORITIES CONFIRMED AN INVESTIGATION IS UNDERWAY TO ESTABLISH RESPONSIBILITY. REGIONAL OFFICIALS ARE WORKING TO STABILIZE THE SITUATION, WHILE SEVERAL OF THE INJURED REMAIN IN CRITICAL CONDITION AT A NEARBY HOSPITAL.

OPPOSITION GROUPS ACCUSED THE GOVERNMENT OF USING THE TOURNAMENT TO BUILD POLITICAL SUPPORT AHEAD OF A PROMISED TRANSITION TO CIVILIAN RULE.

GUINEA HAS BEEN UNDER MILITARY LEADERSHIP SINCE A 2021 COUP, PART OF A BROADER TREND IN WEST AFRICA WHERE MILITARY REGIMES HAVE DELAYED RETURNING POWER TO CIVILIAN GOVERNMENTS.

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