By Alvin Lansana Kargbo

The Kasafoni land dispute has emerged as a critical turning point for Sierra Leone’s Parliament, presenting a defining moment for lawmakers to demonstrate their commitment to justice, constitutional order and the protection of community rights in the face of growing public concern over land governance and human rights.

At the center of the controversy is a petition submitted by Paramount Chief Member of Parliament, Alhaji Musa Bamba Foray Kulio Jalloh III, on behalf of the people of Dansogoia, Sambaia and Diang Chiefdoms. The petition challenges Statutory Instrument No. 11 of 2024, which granted administrative control of community land in Kasafoni to the Sierra Leone Mines and Minerals Development and Management Corporation (SLMMDMC), bypassing the existing lease agreement with the locally respected Gento Group of Companies.

The residents argue that their agreement with Gento Group followed lawful procedures, including community consultation and consent, in accordance with the Customary Land Rights Act, the Mines and Minerals Development Act and the 1991 Constitution. They maintain that the partnership has brought meaningful development to their communities through road construction, clean water systems and improved health facilities. In sharp contrast, they accuse the SLMMDMC of taking over their land without dialogue, transparency or regard for due process.

Legal experts have warned that the statutory instrument contradicts Section 33(3)(a) of the Mines and Minerals Development Act, which explicitly requires community consultation before any mining or land agreement is formalized. They caution that disregarding those provisions not only undermines the law but also endangers the rights of other indigenous communities across the country who rely on similar legal protections.

The silence of the Human Rights Commission in the face of credible allegations of rights violations has only intensified public frustration. Civil society actors argue that by failing to speak out or investigate, the Commission is eroding public trust in the institutions responsible for upholding justice and accountability.

For Parliament, the responsibility is now clear. The Kasafoni petition presents an opportunity to assert its authority as the ultimate guardian of public interest and constitutional integrity. The people of Kasafoni are not rejecting development; they are demanding that development be pursued within the boundaries of legality and with full respect for community ownership and participation.

Paramount Chief Member of Parliament, Alhaji Musa Bamba Foray Kulio Jalloh III, has emphasized that the Gento agreement was built on mutual understanding and accountability; qualities the community finds lacking in the current actions of the SLMMDMC. He insists that the rights and voices of the people must be central to any decisions regarding their ancestral land.

The outcome of this petition will set a national precedent. A decision that upholds the rule of law and validates the community’s right to self-determination will reinforce democratic governance and legal order. On the other hand, any move to legitimize unilateral state action without consultation risks weakening the very foundations of Sierra Leone’s democracy.

The people of Kasafoni have made it clear that their struggle is not simply about land, but about justice, dignity and their rightful place in the nation's future. Parliament now faces the urgent task of ensuring that their voices are heard and their rights protected.

This is a defining moment; one that will reflect whether Parliament is prepared to rise above politics and pressure, and take the right decision in defense of law, justice and the will of the people. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/kasafoni-land-dispute-becomes-defining-test-of-parliaments-commitment-to-justice-rule-of-law/