A soccer stadium stampede in southern Guinea killed 56 people and left several others injured following clashes between fans at a local tournament final, government officials announced Monday.
The tragedy unfolded Sunday afternoon at a stadium in Nzerekore during the championship match between Labe and Nzerekore teams, a tournament organized to honor military leader Mamadi Doumbouya, according to Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah.
Communications Minister Fana Soumah announced via state television that authorities have launched an investigation to determine responsibility for the deadly incident. Local media outlets and political groups report that children were among the victims.
The chaos reportedly erupted after a disputed penalty call, with Media Guinea, a local news website, reporting that security forces deployed tear gas in response to stone-throwing supporters. Several victims are in critical condition at a regional hospital.
Video footage appearing to show the incident captured fans protesting referee decisions before violence broke out, with spectators seen climbing stadium fencing to escape. Additional footage showed numerous injured people receiving treatment on hospital floors amid crowds of onlookers.
The National Alliance for Alternation and Democracy opposition coalition demanded an investigation, criticizing the tournament as a platform for the military leader’s “illegal and inappropriate” political ambitions.
The incident occurs against the backdrop of military rule in Guinea, where soldiers led by Doumbouya ousted President Alpha Conde in 2021, joining other West African nations like Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso under military control with delayed returns to civilian governance.
