Guinea’s Prime Minister, Amadou Oury Bah, has blamed refereeing decisions, governance failures, and human error for a deadly stadium crush in N’Zerekore that killed dozens of football fans on Sunday.
The government’s provisional death toll stands at 56, but local rights organisations claim 135 people died, with 50 still missing.
Bah told Radio France Internationale that the tragedy was triggered by a completely substandard refereeing decision, which led to heightened tensions during the match. Events escalated after a controversial penalty decision, compounded by earlier red cards given to the opposing team.
Witnesses said the poorly maintained stadium, which lacked adequate exits, became a death trap when vehicles belonging to security forces blocked the sole real gate. Tear gas fired by security personnel further exacerbated the chaos.
Bah acknowledged, “We are paying dearly for the years of poor governance that the country has experienced in a wide variety of areas,” adding that the situation reflected widespread institutional failings.
The tragedy occurred during a football tournament reportedly organised in honour of Guinea’s junta leader, General Mamady Doumbouya. Critics accuse the government of neglecting safety standards while using public events to bolster Doumbouya’s political image.
Bah denied any intentional underreporting of the death toll, saying efforts were ongoing to ascertain an accurate count.
The Prime Minister stated that Doumbouya no longer wishes for such events to be held in his name. However, the tragedy has heightened scrutiny of the junta’s governance and its role in fostering unsafe public gatherings.
This stampede adds to the challenges faced by Guinea’s leadership over allegations of mismanagement and mounting political tensions.
