By Foday Moriba Conteh
The Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, Julius Daniel Mattai, has underscored the Government of Sierra Leone’s commitment to responsible mining, value addition, transparency and equitable distribution of benefits from the country’s mineral wealth as Sierra Leone officially hosts the 2026 Mining Week.
The Minister made the remarks during a special Press Conference held on Tuesday, 19 May 2026, at the Bintumani Hotel in Aberdeen, Freetown, ahead of the official commencement of Sierra Leone Mining Week 2026, themed: “Our Mineral Resources: Responsible Mining, Value Multiplication and Shared Prosperity.”
The week-long event, which runs from 19th to 23rd May 2026 at the Bintumani Hotel, is expected to serve as a major platform for dialogue, policy engagement, investment promotion and public education on Sierra Leone’s mining sector. This year’s event will also host the 11th Meeting of the African Diamond Producers Association (ADPA) Council of Ministers, bringing together Ministers, policymakers, mining experts, investors, regulators, financiers, development partners and industry stakeholders from across Africa and beyond.
Addressing journalists, Government officials, mining stakeholders and members of the public, Julius Daniel Mattai described Mining Week as one of Sierra Leone’s most significant national platforms for dialogue on the country’s mineral resources and the future of the mining sector.
He stressed that while Sierra Leone is richly endowed with mineral resources, the national conversation should not only focus on extraction but also on how such resources are responsibly managed and transformed into meaningful development outcomes for citizens.
According to Julius Daniel Mattai, every mineral resource beneath Sierra Leone’s soil belongs to the people, while the Government only serves as a custodian, entrusted with managing those resources on behalf of citizens.
“The mandate of the Government and the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources is to ensure that these resources are managed effectively, efficiently, transparently, sustainably and in ways that deliver meaningful benefits to the people of Sierra Leone,” the Minister emphasized.
He explained that the Ministry, in close collaboration with the National Minerals Agency and other relevant institutions, continues to regulate, oversee and facilitate responsible mining activities in accordance with national legislation, regional frameworks and international treaties and protocols governing mineral resources.
The Minister acknowledged that public mistrust and misconceptions surrounding the mining sector have persisted over the years, especially among communities directly affected by mining activities, largely due to limited information and misinformation about how minerals are managed and exported.
According to the Minister, Sierra Leone Mining Week was introduced in 2025 to bridge that information gap and create an inclusive platform where citizens, mining companies, regulators, policymakers, academia, media practitioners and investors can engage openly.
“Mining Week is not only about exhibitions and discussions; it is about engaging the people, addressing concerns, sharing information and ensuring Sierra Leoneans understand how mineral resources are managed and how they can benefit from them,” Julius Daniel Mattai said.
He further disclosed that the annual initiative was designed to bring together key players in the mining ecosystem, including Ministries, Departments and Agencies, mining companies, development partners, financial institutions, traditional leaders, youth groups, women’s organizations and local communities to collectively discuss opportunities and challenges within the sector.
The Minister also highlighted Sierra Leone’s growing continental influence in mining governance, revealing that the country currently chairs the African Diamond Producers Association, having assumed the leadership role for the first time in the organization’s nearly 20-year history in 2025.
Julius Daniel Mattai disclosed that the 11th Ordinary Meeting of the ADPA Council of Ministers, scheduled during Mining Week 2026, will attract representatives from more than 15 African countries, including Liberia, Guinea, Ghana, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Namibia, Angola, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Lesotho.
He added that observer nations and strategic partners, including India, Mozambique, Algeria, Russia and Mali, are also expected to participate in discussions focused on the future of Africa’s diamond and mineral industries.
Speaking on the significance of this year’s Mining Week theme, Julius Daniel Mattai explained that responsible mining involves environmentally sustainable, socially accountable and transparent mineral extraction processes.
He said value multiplication focuses on transforming raw minerals into higher-value products through beneficiation, industrial processing and downstream manufacturing to increase national revenue and job creation.
Using lithium as an example, the Minister emphasized the importance of moving beyond exporting raw minerals toward producing value-added products that can contribute to industries such as battery manufacturing and clean energy technologies.
“We cannot continue to export our raw materials without adding value. The future lies in transforming these resources into products that can create jobs, increase revenue and expand opportunities for Sierra Leoneans,” Julius Daniel Mattai noted.
On the issue of shared prosperity, the Minister stressed that the benefits generated from mineral wealth must be distributed equitably and transparently, particularly among host communities that experience the environmental and social impact of mining operations.
He disclosed that major discussions during Mining Week 2026 will focus on mining finance, energy and infrastructure, women’s participation in mining, youth inclusion, community development, education, local content and policy reforms aimed at strengthening the sector.
Also speaking at the press conference, the Chief Technical Officer of Leone Rock Metal Group, Salim Sillah, lauded ongoing reforms in Sierra Leone’s mining sector, describing the current period as one of the most progressive and promising in the country’s mining history.
Salim Sillah stated that after spending more than two decades working in the mining sector, he has never felt more optimistic about Sierra Leone’s mining environment.
According to him, investors and mining executives who engage internationally now speak with confidence about Sierra Leone’s mining laws and regulatory systems, which he said increasingly compare favorably with standards in other mining jurisdictions.
He praised reforms introduced by the Government and the National Minerals Agency, particularly efforts aimed at simplifying licensing procedures, enhancing transparency and establishing investor-friendly mechanisms such as digital access to information and one-stop investment platforms.
“The level of investment currently being witnessed in Sierra Leone’s mining industry is unprecedented in recent years,” Salim Sillah said, noting that beyond licensing, companies are now making tangible investments in infrastructure, operations and host communities.
He highlighted the growing implementation of Community Development Agreements (CDAs), emphasizing that mining companies are investing significantly in education, social infrastructure and livelihood programmes in host communities.
Salim Sillah also underscored the importance of security of tenure, stating that investor confidence depends heavily on policy certainty and assurance that mining licenses and investments will remain protected.
On community relations, he observed a significant reduction in tensions between mining companies and host communities, attributing the improvement to stronger engagement mechanisms, community empowerment and inclusive dialogue.
The Leone Rock executive further emphasized the importance of value addition, echoing Government calls for Sierra Leone and Africa to move beyond exporting raw minerals and instead invest in processing and beneficiation.
“The only way Sierra Leone and Africa can truly develop through mining is through value addition,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, the Executive Director of the African Diamond Producers Association (ADPA), Ellah Muchemwa, commended Sierra Leone’s leadership and commitment to responsible mining, describing the country as a key force in promoting cooperation among African diamond-producing nations.
Ellah Muchemwa expressed delight at participating in Sierra Leone Mining Week and noted that the event provides a valuable platform for advancing dialogue on Africa’s diamond industry and mineral resource governance.
She explained that ADPA is an intergovernmental organization established in 2006 through the Luanda Declaration and headquartered in Luanda, Angola, with 22 member countries involved in diamond production and exploration.
According to Ellah Muchemwa, Sierra Leone is a founding member of the Association and currently chairs the organization, with South Africa serving as Deputy Chair.
She praised Sierra Leone’s leadership, describing it as exemplary and instrumental in strengthening regional cooperation within Africa’s diamond industry.
Ellah Muchemwa disclosed that ADPA continues to prioritize regional cooperation, capacity building, value addition, beneficiation and unified communication strategies aimed at ensuring mining communities benefit from Africa’s diamond resources.
She further highlighted ADPA’s role in promoting responsible mining standards and advocating for policies that improve livelihoods, create jobs and strengthen sustainable development in mining communities. With Sierra Leone Mining Week 2026 officially underway, stakeholders remain optimistic that the gathering will deepen public understanding, strengthen investor confidence, promote regional cooperation and accelerate efforts toward responsible mineral resource management for the benefit of present and future generations of Sierra Leoneans.
