Residents and representatives of the Congo/Pawpaw community have appealed for justice and a peaceful resolution to a longstanding dispute over land involving the community and the military.
The appeal was made on Monday, September 28, 2026, during a Press Conference organized by Amnesty International Sierra Leone at the Council of Churches in Sierra Leone Hall on Kingharman Road in Freetown.
Speaking at the Press Conference, Headman of the Congo/Pawpaw Community, Umaru Bah, said the community had maintained a longstanding connection to the disputed land and had engaged Government institutions over the matter.
Umaru Bah said residents of the community have documents relating to its claim and that parliamentary representatives had visited the area to examine the matter.
“We are not against development. What we are saying is that our rights must also be respected,” Umaru Bah said.
He appealed for the dispute to be addressed through dialogue and the appropriate legal processes, saying the matter continues to affect members of the community.
Former parliamentarian, Hon. Mark Mahmoud Kalokoh, called for the issue to be examined through the appropriate institutional processes.
Hon. Mark Mahmoud Kalokoh referred to a report concerning the community and the military which he said was laid before Parliament on April 5, 2023.
He stressed the importance of examining the available records and evidence surrounding the matter, rather than allowing the dispute to become a political issue.
“The people are the source of public authority,” Hon. Mark Mahmoud Kalokoh said while emphasizing the responsibility of public institutions to address matters affecting citizens through established processes.
Lt. Col. (Rtd) Abu Bakarr S. Kamara, who was the first Commanding Officer of the Peace Mission Training Centre, spoke about the history and purpose of the institution.
According to him the centre was established to provide training for military personnel, particularly in relation to peace support operations.
He also stressed the importance of understanding the history of the institution and the land associated with it when considering the concerns being raised by the community.
Government records indicate that the Peace Mission Training Centre at Hastings was established to strengthen the training and preparation of personnel for peace support operations.
Amnesty International Sierra Leone Executive Director, Solomon M. Sogbandi, said the concerns raised by the community require attention and proper engagement among the relevant stakeholders.
Solomon Sogbandi emphasized the importance of documentation, access to information and clarity concerning the status of the disputed land and activities taking place there.
He called for the concerns of affected communities to be properly documented and addressed through appropriate processes.
Residents who spoke at the Press Conference also made allegations of mistreatment, including claims that some community members had been beaten and detained.
The residents called for their accounts to be investigated and for due process to be followed in determining the facts.
The dispute is taking place within Sierra Leone’s current land governance framework, which includes the National Land Commission Act 2022 and the Customary Land Rights Act 2022. The National Land Commission Act provides for institutions responsible for land administration and mechanisms for addressing land related disputes.
The community’s central appeal at the Press Conference was for justice through a lawful and peaceful process.
The residents called on the relevant authorities to examine the competing claims, consider the available documentation and ensure that the dispute is resolved through due process.
