What to do if someone dies in Senegal

Senegal requires specialist management. All repatriation infrastructure is in Dakar. Deaths in regional areas of the country demand physical transfer to the capital before any official process can begin. The documentation follows French administrative tradition throughout.

Step 1: Notify the British Embassy Dakar

The British Embassy in Dakar must be notified as soon as possible. Address: 20 Rue du Docteur Guillet, Dakar. Phone: +221 33 823 7392. FCDO 24-hour emergency line: +44 (0)20 7008 5000.

Do not wait until business hours. The Embassy registers the death with UK authorities and advises on current Senegalese procedures.

Step 2: Etat Civil death registration

Deaths are registered at the local Etat Civil (Civil Registry office) in the commune where the death occurred. The Acte de Deces is the official death certificate. It is in French. For deaths in Dakar, registration is reasonably efficient. For deaths in Saint-Louis, Ziguinchor (Casamance), or Tambacounda, the local Etat Civil processes the registration, but access to the office and administrative capacity varies significantly.

For unnatural deaths, the Gendarmerie or Police Nationale are notified at the scene and the Parquet (Prosecutor’s Office) takes jurisdiction.

Step 3: Transfer to Dakar (if necessary)

All forensic post-mortem capacity is in Dakar. Deaths in the Casamance region (accessible by road or ferry from Dakar), the Sine-Saloum Delta, or Ziguinchor require transfer to Dakar. The ferry crossing from Ziguinchor to Dakar takes approximately 14 hours; the road route through the Gambia is longer. Your specialist coordinates this transfer with local agents.

Step 4: Gendarmerie investigation and IML post-mortem

For unnatural or suspicious deaths, the Parquet orders a post-mortem at the Institut Medico-Legal (IML) in Dakar. The Gendarmerie investigation must be completed before the Parquet releases the body for examination. Allow 7 to 14 days from the examination for results. The Parquet issues the release order before embalming can proceed.

Step 5: Embalming and laissez-passer

Embalming is required for international transfer. Licensed mortuaries in Dakar handle this. The laissez-passer is issued by the Ministry of Interior or regional authority. Required documents: Acte de Deces, Parquet release, embalming certificate, Certificat de Non-Contagion. Allow 5 to 10 days for the laissez-passer.

Step 6: Certified translations

All documentation is in French. Certified English translations are required for UK use. French is more widely available for certified translation than Amharic or Arabic, but allow time for this step.

Step 7: Routing to the UK

Blaise Diagne International Airport (DSS) is located 45 kilometres from central Dakar. No direct UK flights. Air France routing via Paris Charles de Gaulle to London is standard. Royal Air Maroc via Casablanca is an alternative. Source: FCDO guidance on death in Senegal; Senegalese Code de l’Etat Civil; Parquet procedures (2023).