Dozens Feared Dead in Violent Clashes During Guinea Football Match

Tragedy strikes in Guinea as violent clashes erupt during a football match, leaving dozens feared dead and raising questions about sports safety and security measures.

A tragic incident occurred in N’Zerekore, Guinea’s second-largest city, on Sunday when violent clashes between football fans led to the deaths of dozens.

Hospital sources speaking to AFP described the aftermath as scenes of widespread carnage.

“There are bodies stretching as far as the eye can see in the hospital, with others lying on hallway floors. The morgue has reached capacity,” remarked one doctor, who requested anonymity due to a lack of authorization to speak to the media.

He stated, “there are approximately 100 deceased,” with bodies overwhelming the local hospital and morgue. Another doctor mentioned there were “dozens of fatalities.”

Videos circulating on social media, which AFP could not immediately verify, depicted chaotic scenes in the street outside the match and numerous bodies lying on the ground.

According to witnesses, furious demonstrators vandalized and set fire to the police station in N’Zerekore.

“It all began with a disputed call by the referee. Following that, fans stormed onto the field,” a witness told AFP, requesting anonymity for safety reasons.

According to local media, the match was part of a tournament held in honor of Mamadi Doumbouya, Guinea’s junta leader who took control during a coup in 2021 and has appointed himself as president.

These tournaments have become commonplace in the West African country as Doumbouya considers a possible presidential run in next year’s elections and political alliances take shape.

– Extended transition –

In September 2021, Doumbouya took control through a coup by overthrowing President Alpha Conde. At the time, Conde had appointed him as the leader of an elite unit responsible for shielding the head of state from such coups.

Facing international pressure, he initially promised to transfer power back to a civilian government by the end of 2024. However, he has since indicated that he will not follow through with this commitment.

In January, the military leader took it upon himself to promote to lieutenant general, and last month he raised his rank further by becoming an army general.

Doumbouya has overseen a continuous suppression of dissent, resulting in numerous opposition leaders being detained, brought to trial, or compelled to go into exile.

A “transitional charter” created by the junta shortly after the coup stipulated that no member of the junta was eligible to run in either national or local elections.

However, Doumbouya’s supporters have recently voiced their backing for his candidacy in the upcoming presidential election.

Authorities announced that by the close of September, elections aimed at restoring constitutional order are planned for 2025.

Although Guinea has significant natural resources, it continues to be an impoverished nation.

For decades, authoritarian governments have ruled it.

Doumbouya is among the several military officers who have taken power in West Africa since 2020, joining counterparts in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

N’Zerekore, the location of the clashes in southeastern Guinea, has a population of approximately 200,000 residents.