A critical land rights crisis is unfolding in the Kasafoni region of Sierra Leone, as community members from Dansogoia, Sambaia, and Diang Chiefdoms accuse state-backed entities of unlawfully seizing land, sparking widespread concern over human rights violations and institutional silence.
The controversy has prompted a petition submitted to Parliament by Hon. PC Alhaji Musa Bamba Foray Kulio Jalloh III, Paramount Chief MP for Tonkolili District. The petition, scheduled for review on Monday, July 7, by the Public Petitions Committee chaired by Speaker Rt. Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas, calls for urgent redress of grievances against the Sierra Leone Mines and Minerals Development and Management Corporation (SLMMDMC).
Disputed Lease & Community Development
At issue is a lease agreement between the indigenous Gento Group of Companies and the local communities, allegedly approved through transparent and lawful processes in line with the Customary Land Rights Act, the Mines and Minerals Development Act, and the 1991 Constitution. Residents credit the Gento Group with transformative infrastructure projects, including new roads, water systems, and enhanced healthcare.
Conversely, the SLMMDMC is accused of obtaining land rights without consulting or securing consent from the communities. The petition demands that Parliament revoke Statutory Instrument No. 11 of 2024, which granted administrative control of the disputed land to SLMMDMC, and initiate an investigation into the legality of that transfer.
Legal Concerns & Institutional Silence
Legal scholars argue that the instrument directly violates Section 33(3)(a) of the Mines and Minerals Development Act, which requires community consultation. Prominent voices, including State Counsel Yusuf Isaac Sesay, have emphasized that no institution is exempt from legal obligations to engage and seek consent.
However, critics highlight the troubling absence of response from the Attorney General’s Office and the Human Rights Commission.
“This is a test case for Sierra Leone’s commitment to human rights and legal due process,” said one civil rights advocate. “Failure to act will leave the Government culpable for any unrest that follows.”
Chief Jalloh III reinforced that development must be pursued legally and respectfully. “We are not against progress,” he said, “but our rights and voices must matter.”
What’s at Stake
As Parliament prepares to deliberate, the Kasafoni dispute could mark a watershed moment for Sierra Leone’s democratic integrity. The outcome will shape how the country balances state-led development with indigenous rights and civic justice.