At least 37 young Congolese people died on Monday night in a stampede during a recruitment operation by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) army in the capital, Brazzaville, local authorities announced this Tuesday.
“The provisional balance established by the emergency services is 37 dead and many injured”, according to a statement from the crisis unit created by Prime Minister Anatole Collinet Makosso, referring to a “tragedy”.
According to Lusa, several images shared on social media show dozens of bodies in the municipal morgue, as well as injured people admitted to the Brazzaville university hospital (CHU) and the military hospital.
Last week, the Congolese army announced the recruitment of 1,500 young people aged between 18 and 25.
Late on Monday night, the candidates forced their way through the gates of the Michel d’Ornano stadium, in the center of the capital, where recruitment is taking place.
According to local inhabitants, a disorderly stampede ensued, with many people falling and being trampled.
