Government, SLMMDMC Secure Landmark Land Lease Deal with Diang Chiefdom
The Government of Sierra Leone, through the Sierra Leone Mines and Minerals Development and Management Corporation (SLMMDMC), has entered into a historic Land Lease Agreement with the people of Diang Chiefdom in Koinadugu District. Signed on Thursday, 21st August 2025, the deal is designed to open doors for sustainable mining operations, boost national revenue, and guarantee tangible benefits for host communities.
The SLMMDMC
established as the state’s statutory vehicle for advancing mining development will oversee the venture, ensure credible investor participation, and align the agreement with national interests.
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Kondembaia, headquarters of Diang Chiefdom, Minister of Finance Sheku Fantamadi Bangura, who led the government delegation, explained that the initiative followed a directive from President Julius Maada Bio. He emphasized that Paramount Chiefs and landowners in Koinadugu and Tonkolili Districts were central to the process, stressing the importance of their consent before land utilization.
According to Minister Bangura, the agreements will create job opportunities for young people, strengthen community development projects, and attract investors who are already lined up to establish an iron ore plant, railway, and port within a year. He also assured residents that the Kabala Diang road project would feature in the 2026 national budget.
Paramount Chief Sheku Koroma Magba III welcomed the deal, describing it as a milestone in the chiefdom’s development journey, while reaffirming that final approval for land use rests with the government.
Hon. Sahr Emerson Lamina, Chairman of the Parliamentary Mines Committee, highlighted reforms in the Mines and Minerals Act 2022 that increase landowners’ share of surface rent from 50% to 70%, with Paramount Chiefs, District Councils, and MPs each receiving 10%. He urged peace and cooperation to make the venture successful.
Solicitor-General Robert Kowa Esq. confirmed that the agreement runs for 49 years, with an option of a 25-year extension. Annual surface rent is set at $76,000, subject to review every five years, ensuring both government and landowners benefit fairly from the arrangement.
