Parliament Intervenes as Moriba Town Residents Demand Compensation from Sierra Rutile

Tensions between Sierra Rutile and Moriba Town residents escalated on Thursday as the Parliamentary Committee on Mines and Mineral Resources convened to address unresolved compensation and surface rent disputes.

The meeting, chaired by Saa Emerson Lamina, Deputy Majority Leader of Government Business 2, highlighted grievances that have persisted for over a year and prompted a detailed investigation.

The session brought to light claims by the Regent Chief of Imperri Chiefdom, Leslie Turker Thomas, that Sierra Rutile had paid only 2.5 billion Leones of an agreed 4 billion and failed to settle remaining dues.

Chief Thomas also alleged the company withheld surface rents for certain areas, dismissed workers without benefits, and used police intimidation against community members.

Fatmata Bockarie, representing Bonthe District, emphasized the need for fair resolution regarding crop compensation, while Sierra Rutile’s Chief Operating Officer, Kenelm Walta Hughes, maintained that pending payments are under internal verification, with 1.784 billion Leones still to be processed from a total of 4.168 billion Leones.

In response, the Parliamentary Committee announced that a five-member sub-committee will investigate the dispute, including grassland and concession boundaries. Sierra Rutile must submit coordinate data and a drone survey report by Wednesday, November 19, 2025.

The Committee will also consult the National Minerals Agency (NMA) and require a crop assessor’s report at the next session. All parties were urged to maintain peace until further proceedings.

Committee Chair Lamina stressed the government’s commitment to modernizing the mining sector, citing reforms under the Mines and Minerals Development Act and a 70% increase in surface rent by President Julius Maada Bio to benefit local communities.

The Committee is scheduled to reconvene on November 19 to review the reports and further mediate the dispute.