2008 Congo football riots
| 2008 Congo football riots | |
|---|---|
Nord-Kivu, 0°09′N 29°17′E / 0.150°N 29.283°EDemocratic Republic of the Congo | |
| Result | 13 people dead, 36 injured |
On Sunday 14 September 2008, a riot broke out in connection with a
derbies.[2] The riots were sparked by accusations that one of the football players was using witchcraft.[3] Nyuki were losing the game, and their goalkeeper tried to advance up the pitch and cast a spell that would turn the game around. This caused a brawl between the players, and when a police commander tried to intervene, he was pelted by stones from the spectators.[4] To regain control of the situation, the police forces reportedly fired canisters of tear gas into the crowd, an action that caused a stampede.[2]
On the next day, dozens of teenagers staged a
suffocation, while 36 others were injured.[3] With two or three exceptions, the victims were all children; most were between the ages of 11 and 16. An eleven-member team has been set up to study the incident by the local regime.[1]
Reports of the events came from the local
animist beliefs are still strong in this part of Africa, and exist side by side with Christianity and Islam.[2]
References
- ^ a b c d "Witchcraft rumor sparks riot at Congo soccer game". Associated Press. 2008-09-15. Archived from the original on September 19, 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
- ^ a b c d "Eleven dead in Congo football riot after use of 'witchcraft'". The Daily Telegraph. 2008-09-15. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
- ^ a b "13 killed in stampede at football stadium in DR Congo". Xinhua News Agency. 2008-09-16. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
- ^ "Congo: Football Witch Sparks Riot". Sky News. 2008-09-15. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
- ^ a b "Congo football riot kills 13 people". International Herald Tribune. 2008-09-15. Retrieved 2008-09-16.