The Irish Mirror has learned that the body of Mr Sakila – who died after an incident outside Dublin’s Arnotts in May – was in Istanbul early this morning
11:11, 31 Jul 2026Updated 11:14, 31 Jul 2026
Yves Sakila. He had lived in Ireland since 2004. (Image: Corneille Sakila)
The body of Yves Sakila is back in Ireland – after a bid to send him to Africa for burial collapsed half-way through his final journey home.
The Irish Mirror has learned that the body of Mr Sakila – who died after an incident outside Dublin’s Arnotts in May – was in Istanbul early this morning ahead of a flight to his home country of the Democratic Republic of the Congo when a last minute issue occurred.
It is understood Congolese officials refused to rubber-stamp the repatriation – and the body was sent back to Dublin. It had been flown to Istanbul from Dublin on Thursday morning.
We understand the body was placed on a Turkish Airlines flight back to Dublin Airport and landed after 9am.
It is now unclear where the body will be stored in Ireland – or if another attempt will be made to send it back to the DRC capital of Kinshasa for burial.
Flowers left at the scene on Henry street where Yves Sakila was restrained and later died.(Image: Sam Boal/Collins Photos)
Lassane Ouedraogo, head of the Dublin-based Africa Centre Ireland, which has been liaising with the family of Mr Sakila since his death, confirmed to the Irish Mirror this morning that the body was back in Ireland.
“We have confirmed from the Garda that the body has landed back in Dublin.
“Everyone is in shock.
“We all woke up this morning with disappointing news.”
Mr Sakila’s uncle Jean-Claude Lufimpadio also confirmed to us that the body was back in Ireland.
Mr Sakila’s brother Corneille in the Congo told us: “This is a matter of state; Yves’s repatriation should not have happened this way—he needs to return to Ireland to finalise everything.”
We contacted the DRC ambassador to Ireland, London-based Ndolamb Ngokwey for comment.
Antoinette Lukeba pictured at Protest on Henry Street Dublin following death of Congolese man Yves Sakila(Image: Stephen Collins/Collins Photos)
He said as far as he was aware the body was still in Istanbul.
He said: “This is a matter still under discussion between the government in Kinshasa and the government in Ireland.
“There are discussions between the two countries concerning processes. Myself, I am waiting to see the development of this conversation.”
He insisted the body would be repatriated to the DRC.
He said: “It is not a matter of the Congo not accepting the body, it is a matter of respecting the process and also a matter of seeing what is going on in terms of procedural matters.”
We have contacted the Departments of Justice and Foreign Affairs for comment.
Mr Sakila died after he was restrained by security guards in Dublin city centre on May 15, 2026. A post-mortem failed to establish a definitive cause of death and the results of toxicology are pending.
No further updates on the investigation have been announced despite ongoing public questions about the incident, some of which was filmed and has been widely shared on social media.
A fundraiser was recently established to finance the repatriation of Mr Sakila’s body back to the DRC.
Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here