Tensions have increase in Kono district over the weekend following the dismissal of up to a thousand workers from the Koidu Limited Mining Company.
The latest tension in the district started over the weekend when the Council of Paramount Chiefs in Kono District issued a formal appeal to President Julius Maada Bio, warning that the situation is becoming increasingly volatile and poses a threat to the district’s peace and security.
Also, over the weekend, the wives of over 900 dismissed workers from Koidu Holdings Mining Company Limited took to the streets of Koidu City, demanding justice and the reinstatement of their husbands’ employment.
In a letter dated May 11, 2025, and signed by Paramount Chief Edward Saa Mbawa III, Chairman of the Council, the chiefs expressed deep concern over what they describe as “escalating tension among mine workers” who was formerly employed by Koidu Limited Mining Company.
“Kono is not safe,” the chiefs stated plainly. “The mine workersare agitated over what they describe as a failure by the relevant government authorities and company to address their end-of-service benefits issue.”
According to the chiefs, the workers have made multiple attempts to draw attention to their grievances. While police and military personnel have so far managed to contain the unrest, the situation remains fragile.
“They were hoping to hear from government line ministries as promised, but unfortunately, nobody came to address their concerns,” the letter reads.
The Council of Paramount Chiefs is now calling on President Bio to take swift and decisive action.
“We are respectfully appealing to you to kindly address the situation directly or through one of your ministries… to urgently engage the aggrieved workers in dialogue,” said Chief Mbawa. “We believe a prompt and peaceful resolution is still possible through the intervention of the central government.”
Rumors circulating among the workers suggest that if there is no official response from the government by early next week, there could be a full-blown protest or even rioting.
“The police and military have done their best to calm tensions at the local level,” the council noted, “but the workers have made it clear that unless there is immediate intervention from national authorities, they may resort to civil unrest to make their grievances be heard.”
Copies of the letter were also sent to key figures in government, including the Vice President, the Chief Minister, and the Ministers of Mines, Labour, Internal Affairs, and Local Government, as well as senior security and local government officials in the Eastern Region.
Meanwhile, as tensions escalate, the families of the dismissed workers continue to call on the government, company executives, and local leaders to intervene and find a resolution that ensures justice and sustains livelihoods in the Kono community.
The protest is the latest development in a protracted labor dispute between Koidu Limited, Sierra Leone’s largest diamond mining company, and its workforce.
Clad in attire bearing the company’s insignia and holding placards, the women voiced concerns over the hardships their families face due to the sudden layoffs, including hunger and financial instability.
The conflict began in December 2024 when workers initiated a strike over grievances related to wages and working conditions. Although negotiations led to a temporary suspension of the strike, talks collapsed, and industrial action resumed in March 2025.
Central to the workers’ complaints is the company’s use of an outdated exchange rate from 2016 to calculate salaries, resulting in employees receiving only about 30% of their expected pay. Additional concerns include inadequate sanitation facilities and lack of access to safe drinking water at the mining site.
In response, Koidu Limited suspended operations in March, citing safety concerns and financial losses estimated at $16 million. The company has since laid off over 1,000 employees, labeling the strike as illegal and attributing the dismissals to gross misconduct.
The situation has garnered national attention, notably from First Lady Fatima Bio, a native of Kono District. In early March, she joined the protesting workers, advocating for improved working conditions and fair compensation. Her involvement has been met with mixed reactions; while workers appreciated her support, Koidu Limited accused her of incitement and unlawful interference.
