By Amin Kef-Ranger

A coalition of traditional leaders, landowners and residents from Dansogoia, Sambaia and Diang Chiefdoms in the Tonkolili and Koinadugu Districts has sent a petition to the Parliament of Sierra Leone, calling for urgent intervention in what they describe as an unconstitutional takeover of community land in the Kasafoni area by a state-owned corporation.

The petition, submitted to the Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament and Chairman of the Public Petitions Committee on June 23, 2025, challenges the legality of claims made by the Sierra Leone Mines and Minerals Development and Management Corporation (SLMMDC) and the Ministry of Information and Civic Education. These claims, based on Statutory Instrument No. 1 of 2024, assert that SLMMDC has been vested with exclusive authority over the Tonkolili North Iron Ore Deposit in Kasafoni, including all leasing rights.

According to the lead petitioner, Paramount Chief Hon. Alhaji Musa Bamba Foray Kulio Jalloh III of Dansogoia Chiefdom, “The land in Kasafoni belongs to our people by right of ancestral inheritance and customary law. It cannot be removed from us through a statutory instrument that overrides the Constitution and other national laws.” He added that the move disregards both community rights and the principles of free, prior and informed consent.

The petitioners argue that Section 2 of the said regulation grossly violates the Customary Land Rights Act, 2022, the Mines and Minerals Development Act, 2022 and the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone. Paramount Chief Alimamy Bockarie F. Koroma III of Sambaia Chiefdom stated, “We were never consulted before these decisions were made. Our communities have already lawfully leased the land to the Gento Group of Companies and the process followed all due procedures under customary and statutory laws.”

That stance is further supported by Paramount Chief Sheku Mage of Diang Chiefdom, who emphasized the legitimacy of the agreement with the Gento Group. “The lease was concluded after extensive consultations and full community consent,” he said, describing the partnership as a reflection of the people’s will and long-term development goals.

The petition outlines several projects undertaken by Gento Group, highlighting its respect for traditional protocols and its contributions to local development. These include the construction of a health centre in Sasakala Village in Dansogoia Chiefdom, the installation of a potable water dam in Kasafoni Village and rehabilitation of key roads in Sambaia Chiefdom.

While SLMMDC maintains that its authority derives from the 2024 regulation intended to centralize mineral resource management, critics argue that the move undermines Sierra Leone’s legal commitments to decentralization and the protection of customary land governance. Community leaders contend that such state-led centralization, carried out without consultation, disregards their rights and fuels distrust.

The petitioners have urged Parliament to formally recognize their lease agreement with Gento Group, launch an investigation into SLMMDC’s conduct, initiate public hearings with all relevant stakeholders and declare Statutory Instrument No. 1 of 2024 null and void where legally permissible.

“We are not against development,” Paramount Chief Hon. Alhaji Musa Bamba Foray Kulio Jalloh III stressed. “But development must happen with the people; not at the expense of their rights. We believe Parliament, as the voice of the people, must act swiftly and justly.”

To ensure inclusivity, the petition was translated into Limba, Kuranko, Temne, Krio and Fullah to guarantee understanding across all affected communities. “Every villager understands what is at stake,” said one of the Chiefs. “This is not just about iron ore. It’s about dignity, heritage, and sovereignty.”

Now before Parliament, the petition intensifies the national conversation around land ownership, mineral governance and the enduring authority of customary law within Sierra Leone’s legal and political framework. The Public Petitions Committee is expected to review the matter and determine the appropriate course of action, which may include stakeholder consultations and a legal review of the contested statutory instrument. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/widespread-rejection-in-dansogoia-sambaia-diang-over-kasafoni-land-disagreement/