Ousmane Sylla’s final journey home to Guinea was not a joyful reunion but a somber occasion marked by mourning. The 21-year-old’s body was repatriated from Rome to Conakry in a metal coffin, where his family and friends awaited him with heavy hearts. Ousmane had embarked on a perilous journey through the desert and across the Mediterranean in search of a better life in Europe, only to find despair in Italy. Trapped in a crowded migrant detention center, he ultimately succumbed to depression and took his own life in February.
His grieving family, particularly his sister Mariama Sylla, blamed the Italian government for neglecting Ousmane during his time in detention. They passionately called for justice for Ousmane while escorting his body through the streets of Conakry. Despite the heartbreak of losing their beloved son and brother, they bid him a final farewell filled with love and hopes of seeing him again in the afterlife.
As Ousmane’s casket was opened in Conakry, the community gathered to pay their respects and share in the family’s sorrow. A funeral procession and prayers were held in his honor, celebrating his life and mourning his tragic death. The story of Ousmane Sylla serves as a poignant reminder of the harsh realities faced by many migrants seeking a better future, shedding light on the challenges and injustices they encounter along the way.
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