Guinea: Landfill Collapse State Negligence Blamed for 31 Deaths

• A landfill collapse in Conakry's Dar es Salam neighborhood killed at least 31 people and injured over 20 following heavy rain.
• Residents claim Guinean authorities ignored prior warnings about the landfill's precarious condition, despite a promise to close it a year ago.
• The government had previously identified landslide risks at the site and planned evacuations, and nine people died in a similar collapse in 2017.
• The landfill is a significant source of pollution due to regular fires and toxic smoke, prompting a project for a new facility launched in 2022.
• Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah visited the scene, while opposition figures criticized the tragedy, occurring under Guinea's junta rule.

Abou Hamza, a local resident and youth community leader, told AFP that community members had actively tried to prevent the tragedy, organizing meetings and inviting officials, but their concerns were not taken seriously.

A devastating landfill collapse occurred in the early hours of Sunday in Conakry, Guinea, specifically in the Dar es Salam neighborhood, following a period of heavy rainfall. The catastrophe resulted in the deaths of at least 31 individuals, left more than 20 injured, and destroyed several homes in the vicinity. Rescue operations commenced immediately, with workers utilizing giant excavators to search for victims at the site, which was cordoned off by security personnel by Monday.

In the immediate aftermath, the human toll extended beyond direct casualties. Lancei Toure, the director general of the National Agency for Humanitarian Emergency and Disaster Management (ANGUCH), reported on Monday that approximately 358 people affected by the landslide were seeking shelter at a school in the city's Dixinn Centre neighborhood. Furthermore, 72 households were identified as remaining at direct risk of harm, prompting authorities to issue evacuation orders for those residing in dangerous areas.

ANGUCH has since mobilized resources to provide essential support to the displaced and affected populations. This includes the provision of housing, food, clothing, and healthcare services. The agency is also establishing a mobile clinic and deploying a team dedicated to psychological and social support for the victims of the disaster.

The Conakry landfill disaster has ignited public anger, with residents asserting that Guinean authorities ignored warnings about the precarious state of the rubbish dump. Abou Hamza, a local resident and youth community leader, told AFP that community members had actively tried to prevent the tragedy, organizing meetings and inviting officials, but their concerns were not taken seriously. He explicitly stated that the state failed to take steps to close the dump, despite having promised to do so a year prior.

This incident highlights significant Guinea landfill collapse state negligence, as the government had previously announced operations to evacuate residents and secure the area surrounding the landfill due to known risks of landslides, particularly during the long rainy season. The landfill's history includes a similar collapse in 2017 that claimed nine lives, underscoring a long-standing issue. For several years, the government has been planning to close the facility, not only because of its frequent collapses but also due to its severe environmental impact.

The Dar es Salam environmental negligence is further compounded by the fact that the landfill is a major source of pollution. Fires are regularly lit there as the primary method of waste disposal, leading to toxic smoke that contaminates the air in surrounding areas. To address this persistent problem, a project to construct a new landfill in Coyah, located on the outskirts of Conakry, was initiated in 2022, signaling an acknowledgment of the existing site's unsustainability.

In response to the tragedy, Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah visited the scene on Sunday, assuring the public that measures were being implemented to ensure medical care for the injured and provide assistance for all those affected. This official commitment comes amidst a backdrop of political commentary and public scrutiny regarding public safety regulations in Conakry and the broader issue of waste management compliance.

Prominent Guinean political figures have also weighed in on the disaster. Cellou Dalein Diallo, a leading opposition figure and former prime minister currently living in exile, expressed profound dismay, describing the collapse as "a tragedy that plunges us into dismay" in a Facebook post. Similarly, exiled former President Alpha Condé took to Facebook to emphasize the necessity of protecting "the dignity and safety of [our] most vulnerable populations," adding that "Guinea is in mourning today."

This event unfolds under Guinea's current political landscape, which has been under junta rule since a 2021 coup led by General Mamadi Doumbouya, who was elected president in December 2025. The disaster and the public's reaction to it may intensify pressure on the authorities regarding infrastructure safety and environmental governance.

Lawyers should note the potential for significant state liability claims arising from ignored public safety warnings and regulatory failures in environmental management. This event may prompt increased scrutiny on waste management compliance and could serve as a precedent for future negligence cases against public authorities in Guinea.

Source: Original reporting via AllAfrica