[Guinean news] Families of massacre victims banned from gathering

Today, the families of the 157 people killed in Conakry’s 28 September Stadium were banned from gathering or approaching the venue to mark the first anniversary of the massacre.

In a statement read Tuesday on state TV, the Minister of Religious Affairs Mustapha Koutoubou Sanoh asked the families of the victims to mark the date by praying for their loved one at the nearest mosque or church. Implicit in his instructions was the fact that families would not be allowed to march to the stadium, or enter it to place flowers as they had planned, reports the Associated Press.

Military trucks blocked entrances to the stadium and were also stationed at key intersections, the wire service added.

Voice of America noted that a foundation has been set up to keep alive the memory of the victims and to push for accountability for the peretrators.

For its part, Human Rights Watch called for the implementation of long-delayed justice for the stadium massacre.

Additionally, NGOs called for sweeping reforms of the Guinean military.

Meanwhile, there may be another delay in the presidential runoff, now proposed for October 10.