Dozens of people were killed on Sunday in a violent clash between football fans in N’Zerekore, Guinea’s second-largest city. The violence, triggered by a controversial referee decision, spiraled into mass chaos, leaving hospital corridors filled with bodies, according to medical sources.
“There are bodies lined up as far as the eye can see in the hospital. Others are lying on the floor in the hallways. The morgue is full,” a doctor told AFP on condition of anonymity. Another medical professional confirmed the tragic scale of the incident, reporting “dozens of dead.”
Videos circulating online, though yet to be verified, depict chaotic scenes outside the stadium, with numerous bodies on the ground. Angry crowds reportedly vandalized and set fire to the local police station in the aftermath.
Witnesses described how the unrest began when fans, enraged by a referee’s decision, invaded the pitch. “It all started with a contested decision by the referee. Then fans invaded the pitch,” one eyewitness told AFP, requesting anonymity for safety reasons.
The match was part of a tournament reportedly organized in honor of Guinea’s junta leader, Mamadi Doumbouya, who assumed power in a 2021 coup. Such tournaments have become increasingly common in the country as Doumbouya reportedly positions himself for a potential presidential run in elections expected next year.
⚠️🔞 WARNING: GRAPHIC 18+ 🔞⚠️
❗️🇬🇳 – At least 100 people lost their lives in violent clashes between rival fans during a football match in N'zerekore, Guinea.
This tragic event, which occurred at the end of a game, resulted in hundreds of fatalities. Medical sources confirmed… pic.twitter.com/xV3COoViUE
— 🔥🗞The Informant (@theinformant_x) December 2, 2024
Background on Doumbouya’s Leadership
Mamadi Doumbouya, a former colonel, seized power in September 2021, overthrowing then-President Alpha Conde. Although he initially pledged to return Guinea to civilian rule by 2024, recent actions suggest otherwise. In January, Doumbouya promoted himself to the rank of lieutenant general, followed by an elevation to army general last month.
Critics have accused his government of stifling dissent, with opposition figures detained, exiled, or prosecuted. While Guinea’s transitional charter prohibits junta members from running for office, Doumbouya’s supporters have publicly backed his potential candidacy in future elections.
Despite its wealth in natural resources, Guinea remains one of West Africa’s poorest nations, plagued by political instability and authoritarian rule for decades. N’Zerekore, a southeastern city with a population of approximately 200,000, has been a flashpoint for unrest in the past.
Authorities have not yet commented on the death toll or ongoing investigations into the incident.
