A mass burial ceremony has been held in Conakry for the 36 people who died in the Dar-es-Salam landfill landslide, including 17 Sierra Leonean nationals.

The funeral was held on Friday, September 4, 2026, at the Turkish Mosque in Bambeto, where the bodies of the victims were laid out in the mosque’s courtyard for a ceremony attended by government officials, mayors, administrative authorities, diplomatic representatives and thousands of mourners.

Following the funeral ceremony, the victims were laid to rest at the Martyrs’ Cemetery in Bambeto.

The tragedy occurred in the early hours of August 23, 2026, when a massive mound of rubbish at the Dar-es-Salam landfill collapsed following heavy rains.

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The collapse buried several homes near the landfill, killing residents and leaving communities in the surrounding area devastated.

The final death toll reached 36, including 17 Sierra Leonean nationals. Many of those who died were young, with children among the reported victims.

At least 33 people were injured, including six who sustained serious injuries, while the disaster displaced more than 1,600 families.

The disaster has also triggered anger among residents who say they had repeatedly raised concerns about the dangers posed by the landfill.

Community activist Abou Hamza said young people had previously organised meetings and invited officials to address the situation, but officials did not take their concerns seriously.

“We young people did everything to prevent this. We organised meetings and invited officials, but they didn’t take the matter seriously,” Hamza said.

The Guinean government had announced plans to close the landfill on the same day the landslide occurred.

Eviction notices had also reportedly been issued to residents in the days leading up to the disaster. However, many families remained in the area when the landfill collapsed.

Guinean authorities declared a National Day of Mourning following the disaster, with national flags flown at half-mast across the country.

Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah led a government delegation at Friday’s funeral as Guinea joined families and communities in mourning the victims.

Sierra Leone was also represented at the ceremony by a delegation led by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Mohamed Rahman Swarray.

The Sierra Leonean delegation paid respects to the victims and conveyed condolences to the affected families. Swarray also expressed appreciation to the Guinean authorities for their assistance in identifying and caring for Sierra Leonean nationals affected by the disaster.

He further reaffirmed the importance of continued cooperation and strengthened relations between Sierra Leone and Guinea.

In Sierra Leone, President Julius Maada Bio expressed condolences to Guinea’s transitional president, Mamadi Doumbouya, as well as to the families of those who lost their lives.

President Bio described the incident as a “profound tragedy.”

The Sierra Leonean government has pledged support for affected families and is working with Guinean authorities on the safe repatriation of the Sierra Leonean victims.

The landfill 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.

The tragedy has also renewed concerns about waste management and living conditions around the Dar-es-Salam landfill.

As families bury their loved ones, calls are growing for authorities to strengthen waste-management systems, enforce safety regulations and address the housing needs of communities living close to hazardous sites.

For the families of the 36 victims, including the 17 Sierra Leoneans, Friday’s mass burial marked a painful end to the search and identification process and the beginning of a long period of mourning.