FCC Resumes Burial of Kush Victims Amid Controversy Over Its Mandate
The Freetown City Council (FCC) on Monday, 27th October 2025, resumed the burial of victims of the ongoing Kush crisis, amid growing controversy over its mandate to collect and bury such bodies within Freetown.
Although the FCC does not officially hold the mandate for corpse collection, the Council has stepped in to collect six bodies and ensure their dignified burial, citing the urgent public health risks posed by the situation.
Despite several communications, the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs (MLGCA) has yet to clarify which authority bears the formal responsibility for collecting and disposing of Kush-related bodies.
Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr emphasized that the Council’s actions were driven by necessity rather than jurisdictional authority.
“Our intervention is purely to protect public health and ensure that the deceased are treated with dignity,” Mayor Aki-Sawyerr stated. “We will continue to act until the Government clarifies who is officially responsible for this task.”
The FCC continues to call on the Government to urgently investigate the alarming rise in deaths among young people, noting that 253 bodies have been collected since January 2025.
The Council expressed profound gratitude to its burial team for their tireless dedication and compassion in performing such difficult but essential work.
