Land Owners of Dansogoia, Sambaia & Diang Chiefdoms Reject Govt’s Position
SLMMDC’s Position Statement Petitioned
The people and tribal authorities of the Dansogoia, Sambaia and Diang Chiefdoms have rejected the position of both the Sierra Leone Mines and Minerals Development and Management Corporation (SLMMDC) and the Ministry of Information and Civic Education (MoICE) on the Kasafoni Land dispute.
This rejection was strongly and respectfully made known by the three chiefdoms in a petition letter dated 23rd June 2025 addressed to the Speaker of Parliament referencing the unlawful and unconstitutional move by both the SLMMDC and MoICE.
“We, the people, traditional authorities, and landowners of Dansogoia, Sambaia and Diang Chiefdoms, write to formally object to recent government communications- specifically the public notice issued by the Sierra Leone Mines and Minerals Development and Management Corporation (SLMMDC) dated 5th June 2025, and the Ministry of Information and Civic Education dated 11th June 2025,” they wrote.
They stated that the claims made by both the SLMMDC and MoICE to vest exclusive ownership and lease authority over the Kasafoni Area in the SLMMDC contravenes customary land ownership rights and relevant provisions of national legislations, including the Customary Land Right Act 2022, and the Mines and Minerals Development Act 2022.
They called on Parliament to recognize the communities’ lawful lease agreement with the Gento Group of Companies and to kindly request that Section 2 of the regulation be considered invalid from the outset because it contravenes the Constitution of Sierra Leone.
“We trust that you will give this matter the urgency and attention it deserves in the interest of justice, community rights and national cohesion,” they expressed.
The Rtd. Honorable Speaker and Chairman, Public Petition Committee
Parliament of the Republic of Sierra Leone
Tower Hill, Freetown. 23rd June 2025
Dear Sir,
Subject: Submission of Public Petition from Dansogoia, Sambaia, and Diang Chiefdoms on the Kasafoni Land Dispute
We respectfully submit herewith a public petition on behalf of the people, landowners, and traditional authorities of Dansogoia, Sambaia, and Diang Chiefdoms in the Tonkolili and Koinadugu Districts, pursuant to Standing Orders 17 and 70 (5)a of the Standing Orders of Parliament.
The petition concerns recent pronouncements by the Sierra Leone Mines and Minerals
Development and Management Corporation (SLMMDC) and the Ministry of Information and
Civic Education, which purport to vest exclusive ownership and lease authority over the
Kasafoni area in the SLMMDC. These claims, made under The Sierra Leone Mines and Minerals
Development and Management Corporation (Allocated Minerals and Mineral-Related Assets) Regulations, 2024 Statutory InstNment No. I I of 2024, contravene customary land ownership rights and relevant provisions of national legislation, including the Customary Land Rights Act, 2022, and the Mines and Minerals Development Act, 2022.
The petitioners hereby seek the intervention of Parliament to recognise the communities’ lawful lease agreement with the Gento Group of Companies and to kindly request that section 2 of the regulation be considered invalid from the outset because it contravenes the Constitution of Sierra Leone.
We trust that you will givphiym er the urgency and attention it deserves in the interest of justice, community
Yours faithfully,
P.c. HON. ALHAJI ORAY KULIO JALLOH 111, Lead Petitioner On behalf of the Communities o – ansogoia, Sambaia, and Diang Chiefdoms.
PUBLIC PETITION TO THE PARLIAMENT OF SIERRA LEONE
By the People of Dansogoia, Sambaia, and Diang Chiefdoms in Tonkolili and
Koinadugu Districts
Regarding the Kasafoni Iron Ore Deposit and Customary Land Rights
Date: 230d June 2025
To.
– The Rtd. Honorable Speaker and Chairman of the Public Petitions Committee
INTRODUCTION
We, the people, traditional authorities, and landowners of Dansogoia, Sambaia, and Diang Chiefdoms, write to formally object to recent government communjca$jons—specjficaJJy the pubJjc notice issued by the Serra Leone Mines and Minerals Development and Management Corporation (SLMMDC) dated 5th June 2025, and the Ministry of Information and Civic Education dated 11 t June 2025.
These notices assert, by reference to The Sierra Leone Mines and Minerals Development and Management Corporation (Allocated Minerals and MineralRelated Assets) Regulations, 2024 Statutory Instrument No. 11 of 2024, that the Kasafoni area solely belongs to the SLMMDC, and that we, the landowners, have no legal authority to lease our land to any entity. We reject this claim.
Section 2 of Statutory Instrument No. 11 of 2024 states: “All land and mineral rights within the Tonkolili North Iron Ore Deposit in the Kasafoni area are hereby vested in the Sierra Leone Mines and Minerals Development and Management Corporation for the purpose of exclusive exploration, extraction, and lease negotiations on behalf of the State.”
This provision grossly violates our rights under both customary and statutory law, and undermines the spirit of community consent enshrined in the Customary Land Rights Act, 2022; Section 33(3) (a) of the Mines and Minerals Development Act, 2022; and the Constitution of Sierra Leone, 1991.
Clearly, the public statements by SLMMDC and the Ministry of Information and Civic Education are inconsistent with the provisions of Sierra Leone’s laws governing customary land ownership, including Cap 122 of the Laws of Sierra Leone 1960. They also disregard the universally accepted right of native communities to exercise free, prior, and informed consent over their ancestral lands.
CONTEXT AND COMMUNITY CONSENSUS
The land in question situated in the Kasafoni area is our ancestral land under tho custodianship of tribal authorities acting in trust for land-owning families. This status is recognised by customary law, and reinforced by subsidiary laws and international conventions to which Sierra Leone is a party.
In accordance with the above, and following broad-based community consultations, our three paramount chiefs by letter dated 1st June 2025 affirmed that the people have lawfully entered into a lease agreement with tho Gento Group of Companies.
The Gento Group has not only respected traditional leadership structures and obtained free, prior, and informed consent from affected communities, but has also already undertaken several development projects including: – Ongoing road construction linking Gbongbontor Section in Diang Chiefdom; where there has never been any motorable road; Financial support to women in Sambaia Chiefdom;
– Support for the construction of a health center in Sasakala Village Dansogoia Chiefdom and; – A dam in Kasafoni Village to provide access to potable water.
CALL TO ACTION
We respectfully call upon the Speaker of Parliament as Chairman of the Public Petitions Committee, and the entire House of Parliament, to: – Recognise the unanimous decision of the people and chiefs of the three chiefdoms to lease the Kasafoni area to the Gento Group of Companies; – Recall, null and where void procedurally practicable Statutory Instrument No. 11 of 2024 as it contravenes the Constitution of Sierra Leone and other existing taws; – Investigate the SLMMDC’s assertion of ownership and engagement process; – Initiate parliamentary hearings and stakeholder consultations with affected communities.
PRAYERS
That Parliament and the Government of Sierra Leone accept, recognise and respect the collective and unanimous resolve of the people and tribal authorities of Dansogoia, Sambaia, and Diang Chiefdoms to enter into a valid lease agreement with the Gento Group of Companies.
- That Parliament recall, and where admissible, declare null and void the Sierra Leone Mines and Minerals Development and Management Corporation (Allocated Minerals and Mineral-Related Assets) Regulations, 2024 Statutory Instrument No. 11 of 2024.
- That, pursuant to Standing Orders 17 and 70 (5)a, the Public Petitions
Committee investigate the SLMMDC’s engagement with the landowners.
- That Parliament convenes a special hearing involving stakeholders and community members regarding the Kasafoni Iron Oro Deposit.
COMMUNITY CONSENT AND FINAL NOTE
This petition has been read and translated into Limba, Kuranko, Temne, Krio, and Futlah to ensure full understanding and informed consent.
We, the undersigned, act in defence of our land, rights, and development aspirations. We trust that Parliament, under your leadership, will act in accordance with equity, constitutionalism, and the rule of law.
Respectfully submitted,
The People, Chiefs, and Landowners of Dansogoia, Sambaia, and Diang Chiefdoms
