Freetown Youths Block Roads in Protest Over Decomposing Body Near Central Mosque
Alex Fefegula Harding A youth protest near Freetown’s Central Mosque has renewed scrutiny of the government’s response system for removing unidentified bodies from public spaces, following reports of delays in retrieving a decomposing body.
Members of the Soja Team reportedly blocked connecting streets around the Central Mosque after the body allegedly remained unattended for several days, according to a report.
Residents and members of the group said they had repeatedly contacted relevant authorities seeking the body’s removal but received no timely intervention. The youths subsequently resorted to roadblocks to draw attention to the situation and pressure authorities to respond.
The incident has brought renewed attention to the division of responsibilities between the Sierra Leone Police and Freetown City Council (FCC) in handling bodies discovered in public places.
In October 2025, FCC suspended its street-body collection service following questions from the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs about the council’s legal authority to undertake the responsibility.
Records submitted by the council showed that it had collected 220 bodies between Jan. 1 and Oct. 8, 2025. Of those, 50 were claimed by relatives, while FCC buried the remaining 170, according to a report by Sierraloaded published Oct. 22, 2025.
Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr subsequently confirmed that the government had reassigned responsibility for collecting bodies found on Freetown’s streets to the Sierra Leone Police.
In a March 17, 2026, clarification, the mayor advised residents to report such discoveries through the police emergency line, 900. Under the announced procedure, police and medical examiners are expected to attend the scene, examine the body and arrange its transportation to a mortuary. FCC retains responsibility for providing burial space.
However, the latest incident raises questions about how effectively the established arrangements are being implemented, particularly when reports of unattended bodies persist.
Beyond the administrative concerns, residents near the Central Mosque have reportedly expressed frustration over the unpleasant odour and the prolonged presence of human remains in a populated public area.
The identity of the deceased and the circumstances surrounding the death have not been established in the available reports. There is also no confirmed information about when the police were first notified or why the reported retrieval was delayed.
A member of the Soja Team reportedly described the continued presence of bodies in public spaces as an unacceptable situation, calling for stronger institutional action to prevent such occurrences.
The protest has therefore placed renewed pressure on the relevant authorities to ensure that existing procedures translate into timely responses and that unidentified deceased persons receive dignified treatment.