2008 Congo football riots
Encyclopedia
On Sunday 14 September 2008, a riot broke out in connection with a football game in Butembo
, province of Nord-Kivu
, in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
. The teams playing were Socozaki
and Nyuki System, which are two local clubs whose games are considered derbies
. The riots were sparked by accusations that one of the football players was using witchcraft
. 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. To regain control of the situation, the police forces reportedly fired canisters of tear gas into the crowd, something that caused a stampede.
On the next day, dozens of teenagers staged a protest
in the town. The regional governor, Julien Mpaluku, attended the funerals and visited the injured in hospital, and promised a full investigation of the events. He reported that the firing of shots into the air by the police had caused panic, and the deaths were then caused by the ensuing mass flight. 13 people were killed by suffocation
, while 36 others were injured. 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..
Reports of the events came from the local UN
-funded radio station Radio Okapi
. Nord-Kivu has been the scene of widespread conflict between Congo government forces and rebels in recent years, and a great number of people have been displaced
. Despite the fact that the Second Congo War
officially ended in 2003, violence is still raging in this part of the country. Traditional animist beliefs are still strong in this part of Africa, and exist side by side with Christianity
and Islam
.
Butembo
Butembo is a city in North Kivu, in the north eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, lying west of the Virunga National Park. Until the Congo Civil War, it was an important commercial centre with a large market, a cathedral, a small hospital, and an airport, lying in an area known for tea and...
, province of Nord-Kivu
Nord-Kivu
Nord-Kivu is a province bordering Lake Kivu in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Its capital is Goma....
, in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
. The teams playing were Socozaki
Socozaki
Socozaki is a derby football team operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. There were involved in football riots during a match against rival team Nyuki System in 2003 that led to the deaths of 13 people, mostly children....
and Nyuki System, which are two local clubs whose games are considered derbies
Local derby
In many countries the term local derby, or simply just derby means a sporting fixture between two, generally local, rivals, particularly in association football...
. The riots were sparked by accusations that one of the football players was using witchcraft
Witchcraft
Witchcraft, in historical, anthropological, religious, and mythological contexts, is the alleged use of supernatural or magical powers. A witch is a practitioner of witchcraft...
. 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. To regain control of the situation, the police forces reportedly fired canisters of tear gas into the crowd, something that caused a stampede.
On the next day, dozens of teenagers staged a protest
Protest
A protest is an expression of objection, by words or by actions, to particular events, policies or situations. Protests can take many different forms, from individual statements to mass demonstrations...
in the town. The regional governor, Julien Mpaluku, attended the funerals and visited the injured in hospital, and promised a full investigation of the events. He reported that the firing of shots into the air by the police had caused panic, and the deaths were then caused by the ensuing mass flight. 13 people were killed by suffocation
Suffocation
Suffocation is the process of Asphyxia.Suffocation may also refer to:* Suffocation , an American death metal band* "Suffocation", a song on Morbid Angel's debut album, Altars of Madness...
, while 36 others were injured. 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..
Reports of the events came from the local UN
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
-funded radio station Radio Okapi
Radio Okapi
Radio Okapi is a radio network that operates in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. On an annual budget of US$4.5 million, a staff of 200 provide news and information to the entire urban population of the DRC.-History:...
. Nord-Kivu has been the scene of widespread conflict between Congo government forces and rebels in recent years, and a great number of people have been displaced
Refugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
. Despite the fact that the Second Congo War
Second Congo War
The Second Congo War, also known as Coltan War and the Great War of Africa, began in August 1998 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo , and officially ended in July 2003 when the Transitional Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo took power; however, hostilities continue to this...
officially ended in 2003, violence is still raging in this part of the country. Traditional animist beliefs are still strong in this part of Africa, and exist side by side with Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
and Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
.