The Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Wednesday sent its condolences to Guinea, following the deaths of about 50 persons in the country caused by crowd movements during a football match.
In a statement issued on Thursday, ECOWAS deplored the “tragic incident” at the 3 April stadium in N’zérékoré, a town in the south-east of the country, which marred what should have been a celebration of sporting brotherhood.
At least 56 people were killed in a stampede during the final of a football competition between teams from Labé and N’zérékoré.
The regional organisation praised the efforts made by the Guinean authorities to care for the injured and the families of the victims.
While urging them to launch an investigation into the circumstances of this tragedy, ECOWAS reiterated its support for “initiatives that will promote a rapid return to social cohesion, unity and peace in Guinea.”
On Wednesday, the Guinean Minister of Justice, Yaya Kairaba Kaba, ordered ‘the immediate opening of judicial investigations to establish
responsibility for this tragedy and to initiate criminal proceedings against the alleged perpetrators and accomplices’.
He also called on his fellow citizens to show responsibility and restraint in the face of collective grief.
ODL/sf/ac/lb/gik/APA