What to do if someone dies in

Comoros is a small Muslim archipelago in the Indian Ocean between Madagascar and Mozambique. Three main islands — Grande Comore (where the capital Moroni is located), Anjouan, and Mohéli — each have their own island administrations under the federal government.

There is no resident British Embassy. Consular coverage comes from the British High Commission in Port Louis, Mauritius. The country is almost entirely Sunni Muslim, and Islamic burial pressure is among the strongest in the Indian Ocean region.

First step

Call the FCDO Emergency Travel Line: 020 7008 5000 (24 hours). British High Commission Port Louis, Mauritius: +230 202 9400.

The first practical question is: which island? Grande Comore, Anjouan, or Mohéli each have separate local administrations, and only Grande Comore has an airport capable of handling international cargo.

British High Commission Port Louis: non-resident coverage

No British Embassy in Comoros. All consular services — including death registration for UK purposes — come from the British High Commission in Mauritius. The High Commission is well-positioned to handle Indian Ocean cases and has familiarity with Comorian administrative channels.

Islamic burial pressure: act in the first hours

Comoros is almost entirely Sunni Muslim. Community expectation strongly favours burial within 24 hours. Any family intending repatriation must communicate that intent clearly and promptly — to local contacts, to the island’s civil authorities, and to the High Commission in Mauritius. A local representative or specialist firm contact on-island is extremely valuable in the first hours.

Civil registration

Comoros operates French civil law. The attending physician certifies cause of death. The état civil (civil status office) of the relevant island issues the acte de décès (death certificate) in French and Arabic.

For non-natural deaths, the Gendarmerie Nationale must attend and issue clearance before the death certificate is released.

Inter-island transfer: Anjouan and Mohéli

If the death occurs on Anjouan or Mohéli, the body must be transferred to Grande Comore before international export can proceed. No international cargo departures are available from Anjouan (AJN) or Mohéli (NWA) airports. Transfer is by small aircraft charter or boat — allow 1 to 2 additional days for this step.

Ministry of Health export permit

Once civil registration and Gendarmerie clearance are complete, the Ministry of Health on Grande Comore issues the export permit. A licensed funeral director embalms and prepares the body. All French and Arabic documents require certified English translation.

Document checklist

Routing

Prince Said Ibrahim International Airport (HAH), Moroni, Grande Comore:

• Air Austral to Réunion (REU) — connecting to Paris CDG and London
• Ethiopian Airlines to Addis Ababa (ADD) — connecting to London
• Kenya Airways to Nairobi (NBO) — connecting to London

All routes to London require at least two connections.

What to do first

FCDO: 020 7008 5000. British High Commission Port Louis: +230 202 9400.

Identify the island. Assert repatriation intent immediately to local contacts. Engage a specialist firm with Indian Ocean or East African coverage and French-language documentation capability. For Anjouan or Mohéli cases, confirm inter-island transfer logistics before committing to any timeline.

Sources: UK FCDO Comoros travel advice (gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/comoros, updated 2024); British High Commission Port Louis, Mauritius.