President Paul Kagame has expressed heartfelt condolences to Guinean President Mamadi Doumbouya and the people of Guinea following a tragic stampede that claimed at least 56 lives during a football match in N’Zérékoré, the country’s second-largest city, on Sunday.
In a statement shared on his social media platforms, Kagame conveyed solidarity with the victims’ families and the nation, saying, “My sincere condolences to my brother, President General Mamadi Doumbouya, and to the people of Guinea for the lives lost during the unfortunate incident at the stadium in N’Zérékoré. We stand in solidarity with the families of the victims and the people of Guinea.”
The incident reportedly began after protests over controversial refereeing decisions led to fans throwing stones, prompting police to use tear gas to disperse the crowd, which intensified the chaos.
Guinea’s Prime Minister Oury Bah described the event as “tragic” and pledged an investigation, while President Doumbouya commended medical teams in N’Zérékoré for their response and assured the public of the government’s commitment to addressing the aftermath.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) and Guinea’s football federation, Feguifoot, also offered condolences, emphasizing the unifying spirit football should represent.