Guinean Leader Offers Sympathy Following Fatal Clashes Among Soccer Fans

Conakry, Dec 3 (NationPress) Guinean President Mamadi Doumbouya conveyed his heartfelt sympathies to the grieving families after 56 individuals lost their lives and numerous others were hurt in the N'Zerekore region, located in southeastern Guinea.

"I wish to express my sincere condolences to the courageous populations of Labe and N'Zerekore, to the citizens of Guinea, and particularly to the bereaved families, and I wish a swift recovery to the injured," Doumbouya shared on his social media on Monday.

He emphasized that the government is taking all necessary steps to address the aftermath of this devastating event, and an emergency team led by Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah has been deployed to evaluate the situation, according to reports from Xinhua news agency.

As per Doumbouya, a commission of inquiry will be established to investigate the factors leading to this tragedy and to assign accountability.

"I urge for calm and tranquility to facilitate better handling of this calamity, thereby reinforcing our collective desire to coexist peacefully and foster social unity," he added.

The unrest occurred during the final match for the "General Mamadi Doumbouya" trophy. Reports indicate that tensions flared at the conclusion of the match when a penalty was awarded to N'Zerekore, provoking strong backlash from Labe players.

The situation escalated when security forces deployed tear gas, causing pandemonium as spectators rushed to the stadium's sole exit. Some reportedly succumbed to the effects of tear gas, while others were injured or perished in the resulting stampede as they attempted to scale the stadium walls.