By Amin Kef (Ranger)

In recent weeks, Sierra Leone has witnessed a critical moment in the struggle between the people’s right to justice and the unchecked power of foreign mining corporations. At the centre of this unfolding saga stands Her Excellency, First Lady Fatima Maada Bio; an unyielding voice for justice, equity and national dignity.

The First Lady’s bold stance against Koidu Limited, the country’s largest diamond mining operator, is not merely a personal dispute; it is a reflection of the wider frustrations of thousands of Sierra Leoneans who have long suffered under exploitative mining agreements that enrich a few and impoverish many.

What began as a labour dispute in Kono District, where over 1,000 workers have been laid off amid growing unrest, has now evolved into a national awakening. The First Lady’s public condemnation of Koidu Limited's treatment of workers, highlighting allegations of inhumane labour conditions, poor healthcare and inadequate wages, has given a voice to the voiceless. She did not pick a fight; she was drawn into it when the company sought her intervention. Yet, when she refused to play the role of corporate puppet, the retaliation was swift and vindictive, with legal threats and smear campaigns now aimed at silencing her.

But Fatima Bio is not one to be intimidated. Her statement that “defending the rights of ordinary Sierra Leoneans is not an act of defamation, but an obligation of public service” has resonated deeply across the country. Indeed, her courage in standing up to multinational interests has reminded us that leadership is not about bowing to pressure, it is about standing firm in the face of injustice.

The backlash she has faced should concern every patriotic Sierra Leonean. As citizen after citizen has rightfully declared, an attack on the First Lady is an attack on the sovereignty of the Republic. It is a line that must not be crossed.

The situation in Koidu also pulls back the curtain on a broader issue: the broken state of our mining sector. Despite vast mineral wealth, Sierra Leone remains mired in poverty, with youth unemployment soaring to over 50% in mining towns. Communities near extractive sites continue to lack basic amenities, while foreign-owned companies ship our diamonds and minerals abroad, leaving behind environmental destruction and economic despair.

What makes this crisis more painful is that it has been allowed to fester for decades under poorly negotiated contracts and weak enforcement mechanisms. The Mines and Minerals Development Act of 2022, though well-intentioned, lacks the enforcement teeth needed to protect communities and ensure transparency.

This is why the time has come for His Excellency, President Julius Maada Bio, to act decisively. Sierra Leone needs more than another mediation committee or half-hearted press release. What the country demands now is a complete, transparent review of all mining contracts starting with Koidu Limited.

We must ask the hard questions:

- Are these contracts truly serving the interest of Sierra Leoneans?


- Are our natural resources being used to develop our nation or to deepen dependency?


- Why are our people unemployed and poor, while our diamonds enrich distant lands?

President Bio’s administration has consistently spoken about “New Direction” governance. There is no better moment than now to translate that slogan into bold, principled action. Reviewing and renegotiating these contracts is not just about better revenue sharing; it is about reclaiming our dignity as a nation.

The First Lady has shown courage. The Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security, Mohamed Rahman Swaray, has worked tirelessly to push for reforms and has engaged with workers. Civil society has mobilized. Now, the mantle rests with the President to show the world that Sierra Leone is not for sale and that its leaders will not be cowed by threats from foreign companies that think they can buy silence and loyalty.

This is about more than Koidu Holdings. It’s about the soul of our country. We must not allow foreign interests to dictate who speaks, who works or who gets to benefit from our land.

In defending the First Lady, we are defending the people she speaks for. In reviewing these contracts, we are reclaiming our future.

Let this be the moment President Julius Maada Bio charts a new course; one where justice prevails and Sierra Leone’s resources uplift its people, not just corporate balance sheets.

  https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/koidu-crisis-a-wake-up-call-president-bio-urged-to-review-all-mining-contracts/