Rights groups say 135 killed in Nzérékoré
Human rights groups in Guinea said they believed more than 135 fans, mostly children, were killed in a crush at the stadium on Sunday.
This unconfirmed figure far exceeds The official death toll is 56.
The organizations said the estimate was based on information from hospitals, cemeteries, stadium witnesses, victims’ families, mosques, churches and local media. More than 50 people are said to be still missing.
However, the junta warned against the spread of “unverified” information and said an investigation into the tragedy in Nzérékore, the country’s second city, was ongoing.
Justice Minister Yaya Kairaba Kabba said he had directed a judicial investigation into the alleged perpetrators.
He said anyone spreading “unverified or malicious information” would be arrested and prosecuted.
The fatal incident occurred after a controversial decision by the referee during the match led to violence.
Police used tear gas as people tried to escape.
But human rights groups blamed the deaths on race organizers and Guinea’s ruling junta, which organized the tournament in memory of President Mamadi Doumbouya.
Human rights groups in Nzérékore collectively said tear gas was used excessively in a closed area, adding that vehicles carrying officials leaving the stadium also attacked citizens trying to escape.
Prime Minister Mamadou Ouri Ba announced three days of national mourning for the victims on Tuesday.
In response to a query about the number of victims, government spokesman Ousmane Govar told local Guinean news sites that the country was “in mourning and we must respect the condolences of Guinea and its families.”
“The government released provisional numbers and some people came up with other numbers. Where is the contradiction? We did not say these are final numbers,” he said.
A local journalist in Nzérékore earlier told the BBC that the stadium had been “packed to capacity” before the fatal incident.
Paul Sakouvogi said the stadium had “only one exit…very small” and the crush occurred as people tried to escape.
Guinea is one of several African countries currently banned from hosting international football matches because they do not meet international standards.
Other countries banned from such competitions by the African Football Confederation include Ethiopia, Gambia, Chad and Sierra Leone.
