Tejay Mans
Landowners, residents and descendants of Bagruwa chiefdom Moyamba, district Southern Sierra Leone have turned to the Sierra Leone Parliament and Court systems to intervene in addressing environmental degradation, land rights violations, incompliance with the lease agreement among other abuses believed to be committed as a result of the operations of a Chinese mining company, Shun Da Ore Company Limited.
Plaintiffs Jacob Seilolo, represented by the Seilolo family, Betty Stevens, represented by the Stevens family, John Manah, represented by the Challey and Mendae families, Ansumana Sesay, represented by the Anderson and Koromafamilies, and Moseilolo Descendants Association (MOSADA) all of Bangrura chiefdom, Moyamba district, Southern Sierra Leone are at an advance stage in filing a lawsuit in the High Court of Sierra Leone, Land, Environmental, and Property Division, Civil Registry holding at Bo against the 1st Defendant, Shun-Da-Ore Mining Company, and the 2nd Defendant, Managing Director of the same Company.
It could be recalled that Hon. Mustapha Sellu, Member of Parliament (MP) representing the chiefdom in a Personal Explanation (S.O. 23) on Tuesday, 6th May, 2025, formally complained to the Speaker and MPs that the company has been violating the environmental laws with hazardous impacts on lives and livelihoods in the communities.
He informed colleagues that small-scale mining companies like Shun-Da-Ore were operating in his area of responsibility in violation of the National Protected Area Authority (NPAA) Act, negatively hampering the sources of livelihoods of the residents.
Hon. Sellu added that the official documents submitted by the company to the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) and National Minerals Agency (NMA) stated that the company and another were required to implement dust suppression measures along mining corridors – a commitment they have renege on.
“The people in my constituency are suffering due to non-compliance,” Hon. Sellu said, noting that the public disclosure procedure makes provision for companies to mitigate environmental risk, dust pollution. The MP also complained that the company’s mining trucks have been operating recklessly in a largely residential community.
Apparently, after lodging his complaint to the House, the Speaker directed the Committees of Mines and Environment to conduct a joint investigation and present a detailed report within one month.
Parliamentary Sources say no effort is spared by Parliament to compel the company to do the right thing and at the right time.
This is not the first time such a complaint about environmental degradation has been brought to the attention of MPs; and the question arise, what substantial action will MPs now take to force a change of course, since it seems as if the defendants are determined to evade justice for their crimes and the vulnerable residents of the chiefdom?
“Many times, when complaints are made, nothing happens. The Committee must summon the relevant parties, caution them, and ensure clear expectations are set. If necessary, produce a report and present recommendations to the House – once approved, they become law,” the Speaker of Parliament said.
Shun-Da-Ore Trading Company, as of 31st December, 2023, is annexed on the Sierra Leone Annexes of the EITI register of Small and Large-scale Mining License holders, in number 38 as a small-scale license type holder with license code SML 5/2023. Its application date is 2023 05 – 16 with a license start date of 2023-10-25.
The maximum validity of the license is renewed on 2035-10-24, and its operation is on associated minerals, columbite, with an area unit of 86.87 hectares, with more information on the MCAS and NMA Repositories. There is no updated data for the company provided for the years 2024 and 2025.
The Bagruwa people are protesting that the nature of the mining agreement between the company and the chiefdom has been deliberately kept secret in alleged connivance with PC Robert Coker, Ceilolo Papapwe 3 in a bid to less popularize the duties, obligations, and responsibilities of the company to the people of Bagruwa chiefdom while they fatten their pockets.
We made several efforts to reach out to the office and via email to the company to no avail, as of the time of this publication.
Among the numerous issues against the Company are land grabbing, destruction of farmland and crops, polluted drinking water, social disorder and unrest, and polluted water wells. Local authorities, like the Paramount Chief, are alleged to be conspiring, aiding, and abetting the company corruptly at the expense of the people of whom they intend to put to an end once and for all.
