In Guinea's capital, a heartbroken family brings their son's body home
In Guinea's capital, a heartbroken family brings their son's body home
Show all 22Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Ousmane Sylla’s final journey home came not with joyful celebration, but with mourning.
The 21-year-old’s body was flown in a metal coffin from Rome to Conakry, Guinea’s coastal capital.
On a hot day in April, his family collected him from the airport. It was Ramadan, so no one had eaten. But they walked for miles through the crowded streets with more of Sylla’s friends, shouting “justice for Ousmane!” along the way.
Their beloved Ousmane was aways full of cheer, even when he left to join his brother in France, hoping to get a job and send money home. He traveled through the Malian desert to Algeria and through Tunisia, and crossed the Mediterranean on a smuggler’s boat.
In Italy, he found despair. He spent months in a crowded, squalid migrant detention center, unable to contact his family. He died by suicide in February after other detainees said he became depressed and withdrawn.
Mariam Bangoura didn’t know her son was in pain. His sister, Mariama Sylla, blames the Italian government.
“They abandoned him like he’s not a human being,” Mariama Sylla said.
Sylla had scribbled on the wall before he died that he wanted to be returned to Africa, and to his mother.
So they bid him farewell in his home, with love and hopes to see him again.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.