Tragedy in Congo: 37 Dead in Crush Accident as Soldiers Rush to Different Camps

Young People Flocking to Join the Military in Search of 'Iljari'
Many of the 145 Injured Are in Serious Condition

In Congo, Africa, a stampede occurred as young people flocked to enlist in the military, resulting in the deaths of dozens.

Congo government forces.
Photo by Yonhap News

According to the Congolese Prime Minister's Office on the 21st (local time), a stampede happened at a stadium in the center of Brazzaville, the capital of Congo, killing at least 37 people and injuring 145.

The Congolese military was reportedly accepting on-site enlistment applications from a total of 1,500 young people aged 18 to 25 at the stadium until the 20th of last week.

However, about 700 people expressed their intention to enlist daily, causing a continuous line of applicants, and even after midnight on the last day, the 20th, more people gathered, eventually leading to the accident.

The reason young people crowded the enlistment center is that the military is one of the few institutions providing jobs in Congo.

Eyewitnesses said some applicants tried to force their way through the gate, causing some people in the crowd to be crushed. Brandon Chetu, a young man who had been waiting in line since the morning of the previous day, said, "Because it was the last day to register for enlistment, many people decided to wait until late at night," adding, "Some could not hold back and tried to enter forcibly, which caused the stampede."

Congolese authorities stated that a significant number of the 145 injured are in critical condition. The Congolese prosecutor's office announced that it will soon begin an investigation into the stampede and will verify why recruitment continued past the deadline.

Meanwhile, according to data released by the World Bank, the youth unemployment rate in Congo reaches about 42%.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.