Seventeen Sierra Leonean nationals were among the 36 people laid to rest on Friday, September 4, 2026, during a solemn mass funeral in Conakry, Guinea, following the deadly collapse of the Dar-es-Salam landfill.
The ceremony took place at the Turkish Mosque in Bambeto, where the bodies of the victims were displayed in the courtyard. Thousands of mourners, government officials, mayors, administrative authorities and diplomatic representatives gathered to pay their final respects. After the funeral rites, the victims were buried at the Martyrs’ Cemetery in Bambeto.
The tragedy unfolded in the early hours of August 23, 2026, when heavy rains caused a massive mound of rubbish at the Dar-es-Salam landfill to collapse. The landslide buried nearby homes, killing residents and leaving surrounding communities devastated. The final death toll reached 36, including the 17 Sierra Leoneans. Many of those who lost their lives were young, with children among the victims. At least 33 people were injured, six of them seriously, while more than 1,600 families were displaced.
Residents had long raised concerns about the dangers posed by the landfill. Community activist Abou Hamza said young people had organised meetings and invited officials to address the risks, but their warnings went unheeded.
“We young people did everything to prevent this. We organised meetings and invited officials, but they didn’t take the matter seriously,” he said.
Guinean authorities had announced plans to close the landfill on the same day the disaster struck and had issued eviction notices to residents in the preceding days. Despite this, many families remained in the area when the mound collapsed.
Guinea declared a National Day of Mourning, with flags flown at half-mast nationwide. Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah led the government delegation at the funeral.
Sierra Leone was represented by a delegation headed by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Mohamed Rahman Swarray. The team paid respects to the victims, conveyed condolences to the bereaved families, and expressed appreciation to Guinean authorities for their assistance in identifying and supporting Sierra Leonean nationals affected by the disaster.
Minister Swarray also reaffirmed the importance of continued cooperation and strong relations between the two countries.
In Sierra Leone, President Julius Maada Bio sent condolences to Guinea’s transitional president, Mamadi Doumbouya, and to the families of those who died.
He described the incident as a “profound tragedy.” The Sierra Leonean government has pledged support for the affected families and is working with Guinean authorities on the safe repatriation of the Sierra Leonean victims.
The disaster has intensified calls for accountability and stronger measures to protect communities living near hazardous waste sites. Guinean opposition figure Cellou Dalein Diallo described the incident as “a tragedy that plunges us into dismay” and called for a full and transparent investigation.
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