At least nine people died, and several others were injured at a live concert in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Saturday, according to the country’s health minister. Gospel singer and pastor Mike Kalambay was performing at the 80,000-seater Martyrs Stadium in the capital, Kinshasa, where photos from the event showed scenes of overcrowding. Among the deceased is a 10-year-old child, local media reported.
The governor of Kinshasa, Daniel Bumba, released a statement attributing the disaster to “excesses and crowd movements.” DR Congo’s justice minister has ordered an investigation and the questioning of the police officers present at the time, as well as the event organizer Maajabu Gospel.
In a statement released after the concert, Maajabu Gospel expressed deep sorrow over the deaths and blamed “troublemakers” for the chaos. They stated that 2,000 police officers were at the event attempting to control the situation. The organizers also claimed that about 30,000 people attended the concert, significantly less than the venue’s maximum capacity.
The Martyrs Stadium, a major landmark and one of Africa’s largest stadiums, is now closed until further notice. It regularly hosts significant music events, various football matches, and was the venue for President Félix Tshisekedi’s swearing-in ceremony.
In response to the incident, Kinshasa city authorities have asked police to enhance security measures and urged event organizers to adhere to safety regulations. Such incidents are not uncommon at large-scale events in DR Congo; in 2022, a stadium crush at the same venue during a concert by Congolese star Fally Ipupa left 11 people dead.
