By Foday Moriba Conteh
A recent Government mission to Kasafoni Land in the Tonkolili and Koinadugu Districts has stirred controversy following the signing of concession agreements in three chiefdoms already bound by an earlier lease arrangement with the Gento Group of Companies.
On August 21, 22 and 23, 2025, a high-powered delegation comprising the Ministers of Finance, Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura, Lands, Dr, Turad Senesie and Internal Affairs, Morie Lenghor plus other senior officials travelled to Diang, Sambaia and Dansogoia Chiefdoms respectively to secure agreements granting the Government sole control over the mineral-rich Kasafoni land. Their mission, however, met with mixed reactions from residents. Landowners in the three chiefdoms expressed disapproval, stating that they had already leased their land to the Gento Group, which had made surface rent payments and implemented visible community development projects.
Although the delegation was able to convince the Paramount Chiefs to sign the new agreements, many landowners and ordinary residents did not welcome the move. According to accounts from community members, their reluctance was influenced by the fact that Gento Group has already undertaken tangible development initiatives such as road construction, a dam, water facilities and a hospital, which they say stand as proof of the company’s commitment. The Government’s insistence on pressing ahead with a separate deal was seen as contradictory to the existing arrangement, raising the prospect of a legal dispute.
The action of the Minister of Finance to assemble a delegation to travel to the three chiefdoms and sign the concession agreements when earlier the Chief Minister, Dr. David Moinina Sengeh, who was out of the country when the delegation went to Kasafoni land, but had earlier halted Parliamentary handling of the matter and promised to bring all parties together to chart an amicable solution has been described by some observers as governance inconsistency and something very peculiar.
Kasafoni Land has long been a subject of contention. By law, land cannot be claimed by two parties simultaneously. Gento Group was the first to secure a lease agreement with landowners in Diang, Sambaia and Dansogoia Chiefdoms, paying the required surface rent to legitimize its operations.
Under the Mines and Minerals Act, 2009, Cap 123, Section 14(1), a mineral lease issued with the consent of customary landowners and after payment of surface rent confers legal rights to the leaseholder to explore and exploit minerals. Section 16(2) further confirms that such a lease is binding on the landowners and enforceable in law, providing Gento Group with a solid legal foundation.
The Government’s subsequent signing of separate agreements has therefore opened the way for what observers describe as a potential violation of established legal principles. Analysts warn that the existence of two parallel agreements for the same land could discourage potential investors and create an unfavorable image for Sierra Leone’s investment climate.
The delegation’s activities were carried out under heavy security, with soldiers, some wearing masks and armed police officers present in large numbers. While Government officials maintained this was for safety and order, some civil society groups and social commentators have argued that the presence of heavily armed personnel created an atmosphere of intimidation, which could have influenced the outcome of the meetings with the local chiefs.
In Diang Chiefdom, protests erupted on August 21 when hundreds of landowners refused to meet with the Finance Minister’s team, insisting that their agreement with Gento Group be respected. The delegation eventually held closed-door talks only with Paramount Chief Sheku Magba III and his council. Similar sentiments were expressed in Sambaia and Dansogoia Chiefdoms, where landowners reiterated their commitment to Gento, pointing to the benefits already delivered under the existing arrangement.
Earlier this year, Parliament acknowledged the lease between Gento Group and the communities, though the Government had also declared through the Sierra Leone Mines and Minerals Development and Management Corporation (SLMMDMC) that it holds exclusive rights over Kasafoni’s iron ore deposits. This duality has fueled the current tension and deepened the sense of uncertainty.
A petition was earlier filed in Parliament by Paramount Chief MP Alhaji Musa Bamba Foray Kulio Jalloh III, stressing that the Gento lease was lawful and backed by the landowning families. Rights advocates had also urged that the matter be resolved transparently to protect community rights and maintain trust between citizens and the State.
As it stands, Kasafoni now has two conflicting lease agreements, one with the Gento Group and another with the Government. Analysts note that under the Mines and Minerals Act, the Gento lease, being legally recognized and supported by customary landowner consent and surface rent payment, has enforceable standing in law.
The legal conflict may require judicial interpretation to determine the lawful leaseholder, which could affect ongoing development projects and future investment. For residents of Diang, Sambaia and Dansogoia Chiefdoms, the issue is about securing their rights, honoring commitments and safeguarding the development initiatives already underway.
