56 people killed in stampede following clashes at a Guinea soccer match, authorities say
Conakry (Guinea), Dec 2: Fifty-six people were killed and several injured in a stampede at a soccer stadium in southern Guinea, following clashes between fans, Guinea's government said on Monday.
Authorities are conducting an investigation to establish those responsible for the stampede on Sunday, Communications Minister Fana Soumah said in a statement read on national television.
Among the victims are several children according to local media and a coalition of political parties.
The stampede broke out on Sunday afternoon at the stadium in the city of Nzerekore during the final of a local tournament between the Labe and Nzerekore teams in honour of Guinea's military leader, Mamadi Doumbouya, Guinea's Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah said on the X platform.
“During the stampede, victims were recorded,” Bah said, without giving details. The regional authorities are working to restore calm in the area, he added.
Local media reported that security forces tried to use tear gas (two words) to restore calm after the chaos that followed a disputed penalty.
“This (the disputed penalty) angered supporters who threw stones. This is how the security services used tear gas,” Media Guinea, a local news website, reported. It said several of those killed were children while some of the injured being treated at a regional hospital are in critical condition.
Videos that appeared to be from the scene showed fans in a section of the stadium shouting and protesting the refereeing before clashes broke out as people poured onto the field.
People were running as they tried to escape from the stadium, many of them jumping the high fence.
Videos also showed many people lying on the floor in what looked like a hospital as a crowd gathered nearby, some assisting the wounded.
The National Alliance for Alternation and Democracy opposition coalition called for an investigation. It said the tournament was organised to drum up support for the “illegal and inappropriate” political ambitions of the military leader.
Guinea has been led by the military since soldiers ousted President Alpha Conde in 2021. It is one of a growing number of West African countries, including Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, where the military has taken power and delayed a return to civilian rule.
Doumbouya, who ousted the president three years ago, said he was preventing the country from slipping into chaos and chastised the previous government for broken promises. He has, however, been criticized for not meeting the expectations that he raised.
⚠️🔞 WARNING: GRAPHIC 18+ 🔞⚠️
— 🔥🗞The Informant (@theinformant_x) December 2, 2024
❗️🇬🇳 - 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
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Centre targeting Muslims with Waqf (Amendment) Bill, lacks majority to pass it in Parliament: Mamata
Kolkata, Dec 2: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday slammed the BJP-led central government over the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, accusing it of targeting Muslims and expressing doubts on its passage in Parliament.
Touching upon the reduction of the minority Hindu population in Bangladesh and the ongoing unrest in the neighbouring country, she questioned the Centre's alleged inaction in the matter.
The chief minister, during a debate in the West Bengal assembly on a resolution opposing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led central government, accusing it of "fostering divisiveness, neglecting Constitutional norms, and mishandling issues like Bangladesh's minorities, the NRC, UCC, and CAA".
Banerjee alleged that the Centre had "bypassed" state governments over the matter and criticised the "lack of dialogue" on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024.
“The Centre did not consult us on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill,” she claimed.
Banerjee also questioned the timing and process of the proposed legislation, stating, "The budget session is in February. Will you not discuss this Bill with the state before that? Is there no time for it? Will you not consult the state? We raised objections after noticing an advertisement."
Apparently referring to her letter to the Centre on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, she said, "I don’t know if they even acknowledged it."
She accused the Centre of pushing a "divisive agenda" by singling out Muslims.
"Why is a single religion being targeted in the name of this Waqf (Amendment) Bill? Why are Muslims being targeted? Would you dare to do the same with the properties of various Hindu temple trusts or churches? The answer is no. But, targeting a specific community suits your divisive agenda,” Banerjee claimed.
“Will the BJP be able to pass this Bill in Parliament as it lacks a two-thirds majority?” she asked.
Banerjee made the remarks during the first day of a two-day discussion on a resolution opposing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, moved under Rule 169 by state Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay.
Banerjee criticised what she termed "misleading narratives around Waqf properties", calling these baseless allegations.
"Religion is personal, but festivals are for everyone. Those who are suddenly changing their stance now used to say one thing yesterday, and today they say something completely different. It's all misleading and distorting. They're saying that wherever you touch, it becomes Waqf. They claimed that even our MPs have said this. Such are baseless remarks,” she claimed.
The Trinamool Congress chief criticised the BJP for "making opposition members silent" during the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) deliberations on the Bill.
“In the JPC, opposition members are not allowed to speak. That is why they have boycotted it,” Banerjee claimed.
She claimed that a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) was formed because of public pressure and alleged that her party’s MPs were excluded from discussions.
"Their visits were cancelled. They were supposed to come to Kolkata. Why are they afraid of Kolkata? Surely, there’s something fishy about this," she claimed.
Banerjee emphasised that constitutional norms must be respected.
"We cannot interfere with others’ independence. The Constitution does not give us that right. Do you (BJP) have a majority? First, it has to be passed in Lok Sabha, then Rajya Sabha. You will need a two-thirds majority to pass this," she remarked.
On the situation in Bangladesh, the CM said the Union government should take steps to protect Hindus in the neighbouring country.
"If the minority population in Bangladesh has decreased, is that our fault? Why didn’t the central government address this issue? Were they sitting idle? We tried to bring many from there but couldn’t. Many Hindus wanted to come here. We provided food for them, but you don’t know that. Many Muslims also came here," she claimed.
Banerjee pointed out the alleged communal undertones in political rhetoric by the BJP leaders, saying, "Are Muslims living only in this country? Don’t they live in other countries? Then why do you target Bengal? Whether fortunate or unfortunate, this country got divided into three parts."
She recounted the Beldanga incident, where communal tensions flared a few weeks back.
"During the Kartik Puja, abusive remarks were made against me in lighting displays. In another place, there were abusive remarks about a specific community in the lighting. Despite multiple warnings, they didn’t listen, leading to clashes. I stayed awake the entire night, along with the DGP and the chief secretary."
"A few mischievous people indulge in riots, and the common people suffer," she added.
