In brief
Human rights groups in Guinea estimate the death toll from a devastating crowd surge during a football match to be over 135, significantly higher than official counts, with many still missing.
Human rights organizations in Guinea have reported that the tragic crush at a stadium on Sunday may have claimed the lives of over 135 spectators, predominantly children. This figure dramatically surpasses the official death toll of 56, with the groups asserting their estimate comes from a range of sources including hospitals, cemeteries, eyewitness accounts, and local media. Additionally, they indicated that over 50 individuals remain unaccounted for.In response, the military government has cautioned against circulating "unverified" information and is conducting investigations into the calamity that unfolded in Nzérékoré, the nation’s second-largest city. Justice Minister Yaya Kaïraba Kaba announced the initiation of a judicial inquiry into alleged wrongdoings related to the incident and threatened legal action against those spreading unverified reports.The deadly upheaval reportedly erupted following a disputed refereeing decision during the match, prompting violent scenes and police response via tear gas. Witness groups have accused the event’s organizers as well as Guinea’s military junta of negligence, claiming that excessive tear gas was deployed in a confined area, while vehicles of officials struck fleeing fans as chaos ensued.Prime Minister Mamadou Oury Bah declared a three-day period of national mourning for the victims. Government spokesperson Ousmane Gaoual expressed condolences to grieving families, defending the government's provisional death figures amidst ongoing debates about the actual toll.A local journalist described the stadium as "packed to the rafters," noting that a single small exit became the scene of the fatal crush as attendees attempted to escape the turmoil. Guinea, alongside several other African nations, faces restrictions from hosting international football events for failing to meet safety standards set by the Confederation of African Football.
