What to do if someone dies in Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire)

When Someone Dies in Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire) is the most complex English-speaking traveller’s introduction to Francophone West Africa. It is not English-speaking. The British Embassy is in Abidjan and is resident, which is useful. But all documentation is in French throughout, forensic pathology capacity is limited outside Abidjan, and the country has a history of political instability that can complicate operations in the north and west.

Most British deaths involve business travellers, NGO workers, and commodity industry professionals based in or travelling through Abidjan.

Step 1: Immediate Notifications

1. British Embassy Abidjan — first consular contact.
2. FCDO Emergency Travel Line: 020 7008 5000 (available 24 hours).
3. Your travel insurer (notify immediately).
4. Appoint a specialist UK repatriation company with Francophone West Africa experience.

Step 2: Deaths in Abidjan

Abidjan has three main teaching hospitals with some forensic pathology capacity: CHU de Treichville (the primary forensic centre), CHU de Cocody, and CHU de Yopougon.

Natural deaths are registered at the local mairie (town hall). Unnatural deaths go to the Institut National de Médecine Légale (INML). The INML forensic process takes 6 to 10 weeks for unnatural deaths.

Step 3: Deaths Outside Abidjan

Outside Abidjan, forensic pathology capacity is very limited. Deaths in the interior require road transfer to Abidjan. This can take 8 to 12 hours from the north of the country on roads that are poor in the wet season (April to October in the south, different timing in the north). Allow a minimum of 8 to 14 weeks for deaths outside Abidjan involving unnatural death.

Step 4: Northern Regions

The northern regions near the Mali and Burkina Faso borders, including Korhogo and Odienne, have elevated security risk. The FCDO’s travel advice for northern Ivory Coast should be read before any travel to these areas. Deaths here involve the consular emergency team and require careful coordination. Any specialist working in these areas should have an emergency plan in place before arrival.

Step 5: Documentation

1. Acte de décès (death certificate) from the mairie.
2. Police report (in French).
3. INML forensic release order (unnatural deaths, in French).
4. Post-mortem report from CHU de Treichville (in French).
5. Laissez-passer mortuaire (export permit, in French) from the Ministry of Health.
6. Embalming certificate to IATA standards.

All documentation is in French. Certified French-to-English translation is required for UK death registration, probate, and insurance purposes. This translation adds cost and time to every case.

Step 6: Cargo Routing

Felix Houphouet-Boigny International Airport (ABJ) in Abidjan has no direct flights to the UK. Air France via Paris CDG is the standard routing. Brussels Airlines via Brussels and Royal Air Maroc via Casablanca are alternatives. Cargo capacity on these routes is limited.

Further Information

• Repatriation from Ivory Coast overview
• British Embassy Abidjan — contact details