The Sierra Leone House of Parliament will deliberate on a land petition next Monday (7 July 2025) after Paramount Chief Member of Parliament, PC Hon. Alhaji Musa Bamba Foray Kulio Jalloh III, laid a petition in the Well of Parliament on Thursday 3 July 2025.
The petition is submitted on behalf of the communities and fellow Paramount Chiefs from Dansogoia, Sambaia, and Diang Chiefdoms in Tonkolili District, northern Sierra Leone. It is aimed at addressing critical concerns regarding land ownership and rights amidst recent pronouncements by the Sierra Leone Mines and Minerals Development and Management Corporation (SLMMDC).
Speaking during the parliamentary session, PC Hon. Jalloh III clarified that the motion was not aimed at undermining the government but rather sought to vet the concerns of the affected communities. “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,” he stated, emphasizing the importance of the matter.
The thrust of the petition revolves around regulations stipulated by the SLMMDC which claims exclusive ownership and lease authority over the Kasafoni area. These pronouncements stem from the Sierra Leone Mines and Minerals Development and Management Corporation (Allocated Minerals and Mineral-Related Assets) Regulations, 2024 Statutory Instrument No. 11 of 2024.
According to PC Hon. Jalloh III, such claims directly contravene customary land ownership rights and violate critical national legislation, particularly the Customary Land Rights Act, 2022, and the Mines and Minerals Development Act, 2022.
“The implications of these regulations threaten not only our traditional land ownership but also undermine the social fabric of our communities,” PC Hon. Jalloh III asserted. He expressed deep concern over the potential consequences these actions could have on the livelihoods of local landowners and the broader community, stressing the need for urgent action from Parliament.
Moreover, the petitioners seek the intervention of Parliament to recognize their lawful lease agreement with the Gento Group of Companies, calling for section 2 of the disputed regulations to be declared invalid for conflicting with 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,” he urged and appealed for legislative support in protecting the rights of the communities he represents.
This call for action received backing from Hon. Jawah Sesay of the All People’s Congress (APC), who seconded the motion, highlighting the importance of upholding the rights of local communities in the face of governmental regulations. Following the presentation of the petition, Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas, the Speaker of Parliament and Chairman of the Public Petitions Committee, announced that the Committee would convene on Monday at 2 p.m. to deliberate on the petition