Dozens of people died on December 1, 2024 in a crowd movement during a football match featuring a Mamadi Doumbouya trophy, general who has ruled Guinea since 2021. The authorities cite at least 56 victims while local NGOs there are more than 135. For the interim president of the Guinean Bar Association, the bar must be fully involved in an independent investigation into this tragedy.
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After human rights organizations and political parties, the bar of Guinea reacts in turn to the tragedy of Nzérékoré. As a reminder, a large crowd movement in the stadium of this city in the south-east of the country, during the final of a tournament bearing the name of General Mamadi Doumbouya, caused more than 56 deaths according to the provisional toll of the authorities and more than 135 according to local NGOs.
“ Those who organized the tournament must not be associated with the investigation »
The Guinean bar asks the government to communicate the true number of deaths and calls for an independent investigation in which civil society would have a central place. The interim president of the order of lawyers, Maître Morlus Sylla, demands, at the microphone of Tangi Bihan : “ The government must have the courage to speak out about the true number of people who died at the April 3 stadium in Nzérékoré, in order to avoid any speculation on the real toll of this tragedy. »
He continues: “ Unfortunately, with each painful and unfortunate event, political powers open investigations which are never closed. So, we cannot allow those who were the organizers of this tournament – because it is the administration which organized this tournament – well, they should not be associated with such an investigation. We must choose independent people, resource people, from civil society – and the bar is part of this civil society – so that meticulous and professional work can be carried out so that such tragedies are avoided in this country which only records tragedies of this kind. »
Also readDrama of N’Zérékoré in Guinea: “The authorities should have taken appropriate means to ensure security”
Guinea is in mourning after the tragedy that occurred on Sunday, December 1 at the Nzérékoré stadium, scene of a deadly stampede during the final of a football tournament organized in support of General Doumboya. The official toll communicated by the authorities is still 56 dead, but according to the Regional Collective of Human Rights Organizations, it is much higher.