NATIONAL DIGNITY OR FOREIGN PEANUTS
…SIERRA LEONE MUST CHOOSE NOW!
By Ibrahim Alusine Kamara (Kamalo)
For over sixty years, Sierra Leone’s rich mineral resources have been exploited by foreign companies that came with friendly smiles and grand promises, only to leave our people with deep scars and heartache. Our diamonds, gold, rutile, bauxite, and iron ore have fueled luxury in distant capitals, while our citizens are left to drink from contaminated wells, suffer in underfunded hospitals, and search for jobs in the shadows of multimillion-dollar mines.
Enough is enough.
It’s time for a courageous and honest national reassessment of all mining agreements made under the old regime of neocolonial economics. Sierra Leone must stand up and reclaim control over its God-given resources. Foreign mining corporations should no longer own our land or our mines—they need to either partner with us or pack their bags. The age of exploitation must come to an end.
The recent insults directed at the government and the people of Sierra Leone—especially towards the First Lady and cabinet ministers—by Koidu Limited, a company that has profited from our minerals for far too long, is not just shameful; it’s a harsh reminder of the disrespect these companies have for our nation. This is a blatant affront to our sovereignty and should not be tolerated. Koidu Limited, like many others before it, has extracted diamonds from Kono but left our people with nothing but dust in their mouths. Their disdainful attitude only reinforces what Sierra Leoneans have long suspected: these companies view us not as partners, but as mere pawns.
Across Africa, the tide is shifting. In countries like Tanzania, Botswana, and Namibia, foreign companies can no longer own and exploit mines outright. Instead, they are required to collaborate with local entities, share profits, and honor national dignity. Sierra Leone must adopt this same patriotic approach. Our resources should benefit our children, not foreign millionaires.
The newly established Mineral Wealth Fund, designed to protect and invest our mineral earnings, is a long-overdue initiative. But it is just the beginning of what we need to ensure our resources serve our people first.