Mecca Stampede: 70 dead, 40 missing - Official figures

Cameroonian authorities are already in possession of the detailed list of the pilgrims who died during the stampede and those who are considered "disappeared". But there is a delay in making it public.

According to the newspaper L’œil du Sahel, Cameroonian authorities are already in possession of the full death toll of Cameroonians from the stampede which occurred in Mina at Mecca in Saudi Arabia on 24 September.

October 13, 2015 was the day the last Cameroonian pilgrim entered the country. In its issue No. 747 of Thursday, October 15, 2015, the newspaper said although local authorities, including the governors of Adamawa and Far North, spared no effort to comfort the families of the pilgrims, it remains that the management of this crisis is still struggling to face the majority of Muslims.

The non-publication of the official report of this unfortunate incident by the National Hajj Commission chaired by the Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization, Rene Emmanuel Sadi, according to the paper is because "some critics are quick to make direct attacks against the President of the Republic, Paul Biya."

The newspaper reveals that sources close to the National Hajj Commission have disclosed that the number of Cameroonian pilgrims who died in the stampede is around 70 and 40 missing, and the northern regions are paying the heaviest price. "Among the dead and the missing, only one pilgrim is not from the Far North but the West," reports the paper that quoted a source at the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralization.

The Adamawa region registered the most deaths, followed by the Far North and Northeast. A top official of the Muslim community in Ngaoundere indicated in the columns of the newspaper that "with the various contacts and thanks to the good cooperation of supervisors, we were able to draw up a list of victims. We expect the government to make an appropriate comparison. The list of government is highly anticipated because they undertook many administrative procedures."

The government's reaction to the figures from the incident remains immensely expected to end the mystery after the massive disaster.