Dozens, including children, killed in stampede following clashes at Guinea football match

The Guinean government stated that a stampede occurred after a clash between fans at a football stadium in the south, resulting in 56 deaths and numerous injuries. The country's Minister of Communications, Fana Soumah, said in a statement read on national television on Monday that authorities in the West African nation are conducting an investigation to determine who was responsible for the stampede on Sunday.

According to local media and a coalition of political parties, some people, including children, were killed when security forces tried to quell the clashes during a crowded football match in Guinea's largest southern city. Guinean Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah stated on the X platform that the stampede occurred on Sunday afternoon during the final of a local tournament in Nzerekore between the teams of Labe and Nzerekore, held in honor of Guinea's military leader Mamady Doumbouya. He also added that regional authorities are working to restore calm in the area.

Local media reported that security forces tried to restore calm using tear gas after a controversial refereeing decision triggered chaos. "(The controversial decision) angered supporters who threw stones. That's why the security forces used tear gas," local media outlet Guinee Media reported. The report stated that several of the victims were children, and some of the injured being treated in regional hospitals were in critical condition.

Videos taken at the scene show a section of the stadium chanting and protesting the referee's decision before fans surged onto the pitch, sparking clashes. People were seen running as they tried to flee the stadium, with many jumping over high fences. The videos also show numerous people lying on what appears to be a hospital floor, with crowds gathered nearby and some people helping the injured.

The National Alliance for Change and Democracy has called for an investigation. The alliance stated that the tournament was intended to garner support for the "illegal and inappropriate" political ambitions of the military leader. Guinea has been led by the military since soldiers overthrew President Alpha Conde in 2021. It is one of a growing number of West African countries, including Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, where the military has seized power and delayed a return to civilian rule. Three years ago, Doumbouya overthrew the president, saying he was preventing the country from descending into chaos and denouncing the previous government for failing to deliver on its promises. However, he has faced criticism for failing to meet the expectations he raised.