Amnesty International has called for an independent investigation into a deadly stadium crush in southeastern Guinea on December 1.
The tragedy, sparked by a contested refereeing decision during a football match, claimed dozens of lives and left many injured.
Witnesses reported chaos as security forces deployed tear gas, escalating the stampede that erupted in N’Zerekore, Guinea’s second-largest city.
While the junta-led government estimates 56 deaths, local rights groups claim 135 were killed, with 50 others still unaccounted for.
The football match, organized in honor of junta leader General Mamady Doumbouya, has drawn sharp criticism from rights groups and citizens.
Amnesty International emphasized the need for transparency, urging authorities to honor their commitment to investigate the causes of the disaster.
“The government’s silence and restricted internet access raise concerns about its willingness to address the tragedy’s full scale,” said Amnesty.
The organization highlighted Guinea’s ongoing repression of freedom of expression since the 2021 military coup that brought Doumbouya to power.
Days after the tragedy, the junta threatened arrests for spreading “unverified information” deemed harmful to public order.
Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah shifted blame to refereeing and governance issues, denying any effort to minimize the disaster’s toll.