Amid growing unrest among former mine workers in Kono District, the Council of Paramount Chiefs has 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.
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 were formerly employed by Koidu Limited Mining Company.
“Kono is not safe,” the chiefs stated plainly. “The mine workers… are 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.
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.”
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.”
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.
As the district watches and waits, the call from Kono’s traditional leaders sends a clear message to Freetown: the time to act is now.
