# Stade des Martyrs

The Pentacost Martyrs Stadium (French: Stade des Martyrs de la Pentecôte) (formerly known as Stade Kamanyola), or commonly referred to as the Stade des Martyrs, is the national stadium of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, located in the Kinshasa commune of the capital Kinshasa. With a seating capacity of 80,000, it is the largest stadium in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the fourth-largest stadium in Africa. It serves as the home stadium for the Congolese football national team, Association Sportive Vita Club, and Daring Club Motema Pembe, making it the largest multifunctional venue in the country.
Originally constructed in 1993, the stadium was renamed in 1997 to honor the ministers, including Évariste Kimba, Jérôme Anany, Emmanuel Bamba, and Alexandre Mahamba, who were publicly hanged in Léopoldville (present-day Kinshasa) on Pentecost, 2 June 1966.
It hosted the 2023 Jeux de la Francophonie, which accommodated approximately 3,000 athletes from over 40 countries.

## History
### Etymology and construction

Originally named "Stade Kamanyola," the name has its origins in the Kamanyola groupement, within the Walungu Territory of South Kivu Province. This region, a border town and historic site, witnessed a pivotal moment in 1964 when Mobutu Sese Seko's led Armée Nationale Congolaise (ANC) secured a significant victory against the Mulelist insurgency and took control of the Kamanyola Bridge. In commemoration of this triumph, Mobutu perpetuated the name Kamanyola across various aspects of his opulence, including his extravagant yacht, Kamanyola Division, and subsequently commissioned the construction of "Stade Kamanyola." Construction commenced on 14 October 1988, and was finalized five years later on 14 October 1993. The official inauguration took place on 14 September 1994, with a friendly exhibition match between the Leopards of Zaire and Malawi. The financial investment amounted to approximately $38 million and was expertly overseen by a Chinese consortium, in consonance with the grandiloquent projects emblematic of Mobutu's reign. It replaced the former National Stadium, Stade Tata Raphaël. Tout Puissant Mazembe, a Congolese professional football club based in Lubumbashi, frequently contested away fixtures at the stadium.

### From Stade Kamanyola to Stade des Martyrs de la Pentecôte

Following the ousting of Mobutu from power by AFDL (Alliance des Forces Démocratiques pour la Libération du Congo-Zaïre) led by Laurent-Désiré Kabila in 1997, the stadium was renamed "Stade des Martyrs de la Pentecôte" in memory of four ministers purged by Mobutu Sese Seko and hanged at the site on 2 June 1966: Évariste Kimba, Jérôme Anany, Emmanuel Bamba, and Alexandre Mahamba. Tragedy revisited the venue in 1998 during the Second Congo War, when government troops opened fire during a football match between AS Vita Club and Daring Club Motema Pembe, resulting in four fatalities.
On 5 December 2004, the Democratic Republic of the Congo achieved its first victory over South Africa in a historic match at the Stade des Martyrs. On 12–14 October 2012, the venue played host to the 14th summit of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie. From 28 July to 6 August 2023, the Stade des Martyrs presided over the IXes Jeux de la Francophonie, a notable multi-sport event, marking the first occasion that the games were held in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

## Renovation (2008–2023)

In 2008, the government underwent a major renovation of the stadium in response to FIFA's recommendations to bring it up to international standards. The rejuvenation included upgrades to the wardrobe facilities, sound systems, lighting, electronic marker tables, seating arrangements, press gallery, security systems, and fire safety measures. The project cost a significant $15 million and involved a team of four experts, including technicians from the Netherlands, South Africa, and Norway. To ensure top-quality turf, the Dutch company Edell Grass brought in 140 tons of synthetic rollers and 150 tons of sand in containers from the port of Boma to Kinshasa.
In June 2021, the former Ministry of Sports, Serge Tshembo Nkonde [fr], allocated almost $5 million for the Stadium's renovation in anticipation of an inspection visit by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). However, after completing the renovation and applying to host international matches, the CAF deemed it unsuitable on 19 February 2023. The CAF noted that the Congolese state must complete the necessary work before requesting a new inspection for CAF's approval. The CAF found that the overall quality of the work completed in the stadium was not satisfactory according to the standards required for a modern stadium. The detailed February 9 report highlighted several issues, including the "non-existent" media space, internet connection, press conference rooms, medical facilities, and referees' locker rooms that required improvements. Additionally, the stadium's outer perimeter areas "do not guarantee a safe and secure environment for hosting international football matches, as these areas are abandoned and without any proper maintenance".
As of April 2023, the construction and site development work was approximately 80% complete. The ACGT (Agence Congolaise des Grands Travaux) was already carrying out the work at the Martyrs' stadium, according to a dispatch from the presidency's communication unit. On 17 May, President Felix Tshisekedi visited the two gymnasiums under construction, with capacities of 3000 and 2000. During this inspection visit, President Tshisekedi also went to the Tata Raphaël Stadium. By July 2023, student homes and numerous infrastructures had been rehabilitated, and the Stadium was supplied with water with cisterns installed by REGIDESO.

## Crowd crush incidents
### Fally Ipupa

Stade des Martyrs has been the site of several crowd-crush incidents, which have led to countless deaths and injuries over the years. One of the most significant incidents took place on 29 October 2022, during the Fally Ipupa mega-concert, which resulted in eleven deaths, including two police officers. Reports from Le Monde revealed that by 3 p.m., the stadium had reached its full capacity, with more people attempting to gain entry. Despite the venue's 80,000-person capacity, over 120,000 people showed up for the event. Le Monde reported that the high temperatures precipitated cases of suffocation among some spectators. A fatality was recorded prior to the concert's commencement, with the individual succumbing to asphyxiation. Disruptions were further exacerbated by the actions of police officers stationed at the stadium entrance, who confiscated entry documents from certain spectators and accepted bribes to permit others to enter. This caused chaos near Avenue des Huileries, where two tear gas grenades were deployed to disperse the crowd. A post-concert stampede resulted in additional deaths. The Minister of the Interior, Security, Decentralization and Traditional Affairs, Daniel Asselo Okito, attributed the stampede to the organizers, holding them accountable for exceeding the agreed-upon capacity with the police and the stadium. One of the event's organizers was detained by the Kinshasa criminal police around 10 p.m. on the evening of the concert.

### Mike Kalambayi

On 27 July 2024, during Congolese gospel singer Mike Kalambayi's performance, a crowd-crush broke out, resulting in the deaths of at least nine people and leaving many others injured, some of whom required intensive care. While authorities refrained from speculating on the cause of the crowd-crush, citing an ongoing investigation, the local music management company responsible for organizing the event attributed the chaos to an intervention by security services dealing with potential disruptors. Although the concert organizers had initially planned to accommodate the stadium and its esplanade, the rapidly sold-out tickets led to some attendees being turned away due to insufficient space. Some victims succumbed to suffocation, while others perished due to crushing in the stadium, where the playing area, corridors, seats, and stands were overcrowded.

## Controversy

During Laurent-Désiré Kabila's rule, the stadium became the center of controversy and criticism from human rights organizations. It was alleged to have been used as a prison for dignitaries of the former Mobutu regime and individuals suspected of collaborating with it. Reports from organizations like Journaliste en danger (JED), a Congolese non-governmental organization for the defense of press freedom affiliated with Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX), highlighted the use of the stadium as a military camp, where many people were held for extended periods in dungeon-like conditions.

## Other uses

While primarily serving as a sports venue, the Stade des Martyrs also hosts cultural events, concerts, and gatherings of national significance. Some notable high-profile appearances include:
* In August 2003, Wenge Musica Maison Mère delivered a legendary performance in front of 80,000 fans.
* On 25 June 2016, Quartier Latin International celebrated their 30th anniversary at the Stade des Martyrs.
* On 30 June 2022, Wenge Musica reunited for another performance at the venue.
* On 29 October 2022, Fally Ipupa drew a crowd of 120,000 fans, surpassing the stadium's 80,000 capacity.
* On 25 December 2022, Héritier Watanabe held a concert at the stadium.
* On 2 February 2023, Pope Francis presided over a congregational assembly attended by 80,000 youthful Congolese and catechists, during which he denounced tribalism, xenophobia, and corruption.
* On 24 June 2023, Ferré Gola performed at the stadium alongside Kenyan singer Victoria Kimani, attracting over 100,000 fans.
* On 19 November 2023, Congolese president Félix Tshisekedi kicked off his campaign for his second term in the 2023 general election at the Stade des Martyrs.
* On 20 January 2024, President Félix Tshisekedi was sworn in for a second five-year term following a highly contested election in front of a large international delegation at the stadium. The event was marked by a military parade and 21-gun salute. Several African heads of state attended the ceremony.