At least nine people, including a 10-year-old child, lost their lives and several others were injured during a live concert in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) on Saturday, according to the country’s health minister.
The concert, featuring gospel singer and pastor Mike Kalambay, was held at the 80,000-seater Martyrs Stadium in Kinshasa. Photos from the event reveal scenes of severe overcrowding.
Kinshasa’s governor, Daniel Bumba, attributed the tragedy to “excesses and crowd movements” in a public statement. In response, the justice minister of DR Congo has ordered an investigation and the questioning of the police officers present and the event organiser, Maajabu Gospel.
Maajabu Gospel expressed deep sorrow over the incident in a statement, blaming “troublemakers” for the chaos. The organisers claimed that around 30,000 people attended the concert, significantly fewer than the stadium’s capacity. They also mentioned that 2,000 police officers were deployed to manage the crowd.
The Martyrs Stadium, a significant landmark and one of the largest stadiums in Africa, has been closed until further notice. This venue frequently hosts major music events, football matches, and was the site for President Félix Tshisekedi’s swearing-in ceremony.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, Kinshasa city authorities have directed the police to enhance security measures and have urged event organisers to comply strictly with safety regulations.
Tragic incidents like these are not uncommon at large-scale events in DR Congo. In 2022, a similar stadium crush occurred during a concert by Congolese star Fally Ipupa, resulting in 11 deaths.