At least 56 people were killed last Sunday, December 1, in a stadium in Nzérékoré in the southeast of Guinea, in deadly stampedes. Expressing his pain following this tragedy, Mgr Raphaël Guilavogui, local ordinary and president of the Guinean Episcopal Conference, urges all religious denominations to pray for the deceased and the injured. The bishop also calls on government authorities to work more towards the security of the population and peace.
Françoise Niamien – Vatican City
It all started with protests against refereeing decisions, an invasion of the field and the intervention of the police with tear gas during the final of the football tournament organized by the “association of young leaders of the forest” with the trophy “General Mamadi Doumbouya“, president of the transition following the military coup of 2021. This final pitted the teams from Nzérékoré and Labé against each other. The government reported a provisional death toll of at least 56 deaths, while a group of local organizations put the number at around 135 dead and at least 50 missing.
In an interview with Vatican News, Mgr Raphaël Guilavogui expressed his pain and sadness at this tragedy “which cost the lives of many innocent people and also left many injured“. On behalf of the Guinean Episcopal Conference, the prelate expressed his condolences to the bereaved families and his wishes for a speedy recovery to all the injured.
Interview with Mgr Raphaël Guilavogui, president of the Episcopal Conference of Guinea
Spiritual closeness to the victims
For the rest of the souls of the deceased and so that the injured can recover their health, the bishop wishes the organization of prayer times by each religious confession. “In a surge of spiritual solidarity, in a union of prayer, Christians and Muslims alike, may we organize masses and times of prayer in our churches, temples and mosques. We really need to support all the grieving families with our prayers“, insisted the Bishop of Nzérékoré, inviting “all Guineans and other Africans to join this outpouring of prayer».
For the safety of Guineans
Following his remarks, the president of the Episcopal Conference of Guinea denounced the poor organization of this football meeting. “Let’s tell you the truth, there was poor organization in an unfinished stadium, in which there would seem to be around 30,000 people. Which is not really realistic especially since this stadium only has one real gate», decried the bishop of Nzérékoré, who also condemned the fact that the police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd. An act that he described as “inappropriate».
Much more than offering their condolences, Mgr Guilavogui wishes that “government authorities officially apologize to all bereaved families, the injured and all Guineans“. Also, the president of the Guinean Episcopal Conference called on those in power to do everything possible to ensure that security and peace are promoted in all circumstances for the good of all the inhabitants of Guinea.
A culture of tolerance and forgiveness
In view of this tragedy, the prelate, on behalf of his peers, urged his compatriots to cultivate tolerance, mutual forgiveness, conviviality and love. “We must be men of tolerance and peace”he insisted. For peace in the country, finally, the president of the Guinean Episcopal Conference called on politicians not to make a political recovery of this tragedy.
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