Nzérékoré (N’ko: ߒߛߙߍߜߘߺߍ߬, Adlam: 𞤟𞤫𞤪𞤫𞤳𞤮𞤪𞤫; also spelled N'Zérékoré) is the second-largest city in Guinea by population after the capital, Conakry, and the largest city in the Guinée forestière region of southeastern Guinea. The city is the capital of Nzérékoré Prefecture. Nzérékoré is a commercial and economic center and lies approximately 354 mi southeast of Conakry. It was the center of an uprising against French rule in 1911 and is now known as a market town and for its silverworking. The population was 107,329 according to the 1996 census. Growing dramatically since the civil wars in neighboring Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Ivory Coast, the 2014 census population was 195,027.

History

It was the center of an uprising against French rule in 1911. From 1911-1912, the majority of the Nzérékoré Region was put under direct military rule. There were three days of ethno-religious fighting in Nzérékoré in July 2013. Fighting between ethnic Guerzé (Kpelle), who are Christian or animist, and ethnic Konianke, who are Muslims and close to the larger Malinké ethnic group, left at least 54 dead. The dead included people who were killed with machetes and burned alive. The violence ended after the Guinean military imposed a curfew, and President Alpha Condé made a televised appeal for calm. On 1 December 2024, Nzérékoré football stadium was the scene of violent clashes and a crush that caused at least 56 deaths. After a disputed refereeing decision fans started to throw stones, triggering panic, after which the police joined in, firing tear gas. In the rush and scramble for the single stadium exit that followed, people fell to the ground and many, including children were trampled underfoot.

Climate

Nzérékoré has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classification Aw). The city features a lengthy wet season covering the months of March through November, while the remaining three months form the city's dry season. While average daily temperatures remain relatively consistent throughout the course of the year, Nzérékoré has a much higher diurnal temperature variation during its dry season with average highs around 33 C and average lows ranging from 10 to 13 C. The city averages roughly 1800 mm of precipitation annually.

Transportation

The N1 highway connects the city with Kankan in the north. The city is also served by Nzérékoré Airport.

Places of Worship

Hospitals