Making a bold and unified statement, Paramount Chiefs from the Sambaia, Dansogoia and Deing Chiefdoms in Tonkolili District have officially declared their exclusive support for the Gento Group of Companies as the sole mining partner within their territories. This development comes amid growing debate over the Kasafoni mining concession, raising critical questions about ownership, community inclusion and equitable resource governance in Sierra Leone’s mining sector.
The chiefs’ declaration, formally communicated to the Government of President Julius Maada Bio and the Ministry of Mines, rejects the longstanding dominance of foreign companies in the country’s extractive industries. They emphasized that past experiences with multinational firms, including African Minerals Limited and Sierra Rutile Limited, left local communities with broken promises, limited development and minimal benefits. Despite some of these companies being once headed by reputable Sierra Leoneans like the late Moseray Fadika and John Bonnoh Sesay, the chiefs lamented the failure to meet community expectations.
“We do not want business as usual,” said Paramount Chief Alimamy Bockarie Yalan Koroma III of Dansogoia Chiefdom. “It is time for partnerships that respect our rights, follow the law and ensure our people benefit meaningfully. Gento Group has done just that.”
Central to the chiefs’ position is a landmark 50-year land lease agreement signed with the Gento Group, in accordance with the Mines and Minerals Development Act of 2017 (amended 2023), which stipulates that any company wishing to mine must first obtain a lease agreement from local landowners before applying for a license from the Government. The chiefs confirmed that 50% of the agreed payment has already been made by Gento Group, demonstrating the company’s commitment and compliance with the law.
“We’ve studied Gento Group’s operations and several investigations show they’re capable and willing to bring development,” added Hon. Paramount Chief Alhaji Musa Bamba Foray Kulio Jalloh III of Sambaia Chiefdom. “If the Government grants them a mining license, the benefits will extend not just to our people, but to the entire country.”
Paramount Chief Alhaji Musa Bamba Foray Kulio Jalloh III, who also serves as a Member of Parliament, called for a transparent and inclusive process that involves traditional authorities and prioritizes community needs. “No mining license should be issued without the consent of the landowners and the Paramount Chiefs,” he said. “We support the Government, but we insist on fairness.”
The chiefs were unanimous in their rejection of any other mining firms seeking to operate in the Kasafoni Concession Area. They warned that any prospective investor must work through the Gento Group, which they have formally recognized as their exclusive development partner. “We are the custodians of this land,” they declared. “And we’ve made our choice clear.”
This unified stance marks a significant turning point in Sierra Leone’s mining narrative, where community empowerment and indigenous ownership are now front and center. The chiefs expressed frustration with past mining arrangements that extracted wealth from the land while leaving host communities impoverished and underdeveloped.
“We are not opposing the Government,” emphasized Paramount Chief Alhaji Musa Bamba Foray Kulio Jalloh III . “We are simply demanding that our rights be respected. We want a process that is legal, inclusive and beneficial to our people.”
The chiefs further appealed to President Julius Maada Bio to support and legitimize their agreement with Gento Group, underscoring that any mining license granted must align with established land leases. “President Bio should know that Mohamed Gento Kamara is the solution to our problems,” Paramount Chief Alhaji Musa Bamba Foray Kulio Jalloh III added. “He represents a new era of Sierra Leonean entrepreneurship and genuine commitment to national development.”
By rallying behind a local company, the chiefs are sending a powerful message: Sierra Leone’s natural wealth must first serve its people. Their stance redefines the future of mining in the country grounded in community consultation, legal integrity and sustainable development.
Amid the ongoing debate around the Kasafoni concession, the position of the Tonkolili Paramount Chiefs signals a broader national shift toward responsible, homegrown investment that prioritizes people over profit and moves away from foreign exploitation.
