Sierra Leone: Do citizens benefit from mineral resources?

Diamonds, gold, bauxite, iron ore: You name it, Sierra Leone's got it. Twenty years after the civil war, the West African country is no longer ruled by "conflict diamonds." But does the modern-day mineral sector really benefit the people of Sierra Leone? Edith Kimani heads to Koidu town in the diamond-rich Kono District to find out.
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[@ranellscoggins9632]

See what diamonds are going for on the stock exchange . This is when I believe the government should send people abroad to learn the value of the diamonds and the mineral resources on ground and come back and be able to sell resources at a profitable price.

[@diddy558]

Good to see people discussing their options on solving issues mannerfully . And an excellent journalist, Smart and passionate.God bless

[@bernsk.lebbie710]

When I finished High School, I thought I could mine and get money to enrol into a university. I joined the mining 'gang' of my uncle. We mined for close to 2years. I got fed up and thought it was time to leave, but I couldn't even find a diamond to afford a transport of less than 1USD. I offered to underbrush an orange garden and used the money to pay my transport fare to the District HQ where I volunteered to teach. That was how I chose education over mining.

[@lansanafofanah9988]

My heart bleeds for my country seeing such revelations.

[@wellbodisalone]

True.

[@AbiAbi-ib1dj]

Sierra Leone is a beautiful country and have so much that the country could be the one of richies country and good to leave in but the leaders and the goverment have not really got help or what to do but i am praying for Sierra Leone may the Lord God protect and help and guide them and support and invest in Jesus mighty name 🙏❤🙌

[@thelegacygroup7385]

What a phenomenal job she did in reporting this story. I'll be watching more from her

[@cathyluv08]

Thank you for this documentation. The last guy that spoke hit it on the head the government is more concerned about their own pockets and not the children's future... if they want to prove us wrong they would do so instantly.. very sad

[@musakoroma6966]

We're slumbering, I can't tell when we should wake-up from our slumber. God gave us everything in balance; rains & sunshine, fertile lands & greenish vegetation, abundant mineral resources but yet we're wallowing in poverty. We're responsible!!! why am I even here? I tears 😭😭😭 but all is not lost.

[@AffectionateEspresso-qw5tr]

Mr. Jalloh, congratulations on your engagement here. You're very good at words.

[@Tootisepop]

The country has so much potential yet look at this

[@raphaelansu179]

This almost made me develop tears.

[@boltonbah5328]

DW should be doing this debate more often especially in Sierra Leone..

[@AffectionateEspresso-qw5tr]

The journalist, Aiah Missa, killed the talkshow. Kudos to the head speaker. The lady is very good.

[@landz2228]

17:10 in botswana university education and health care is free. botswanans can attend any expenive university in the world, for free so long as they get good marks. meanwhile in sierralone a descent shirt seems ike luxury in many villages.

[@niccoarcadia4179]

Sale of land has always been a prob there. It's complicated.

[@abdulconteh7307]

Good wise and patriotic views, Mr.mayor!!administrative and corruption have being main problems;a population less than 9million must not go through the status quo

[@musakoroma6966]

Government telling people 1% community benefits, very shameful, our leaders are not good for our country.

[@sabanorsanda2384]

Mr jalloh well said

[@KAMARAFAMILY1]

I am from Koidu, and it pains me to see government destroy my town like this,.

[@alphakontehr9240]

Environmental challenge is not only in the mining sector communities but also in the industrialize communities in Freetown so much to address or correct

[@countryfirst3145]

Mr jalloh only god will pay you for standing up for the locals

[@jacquelinegibson7420]

I can see a future where Sierra Leone and other West African countries could attract small numbers of extremely wealthy tourists...the beaches, the wildlife,, and also to learn about subsistence farming ...people with money are really interested in learning how to grow food sustainably...call it permaculture (PDC) Give some land back to the women for this....forget the diamonds.....or just have one or two exemplary mines...benefitting the communities and selling souvenirs to these people. But they will only come if it's safe, and they can see that there is no corruption. And you would need to sort the rubbish and the plumbing....you can do it with young people like this.

[@navigatefreely3449]

If you can't protect what is yours, it's not yours.

[@ranellscoggins9632]

Koidu town should own at least 15% the government on the other 10% and the resources from the 15% should go to that town. The government should stop letting these people come into the country and just rip our people off

[@sabanorsanda2384]

Sad country see what happening

[@francismsenesie24]

That is a good debate! It left with the Government to implement it .we should force the politicians in power to love there country rather than parties for them to have respect in the world

[@trend693]

the problems and concerns raised by the panelists is indifferent from other mining communities across sub-Saharan Africa. the mining communities does not benefits form their resources but are left in extreme poverty and made to suffer from the effects of unethical mining procedures used by the mining companies.

[@StevenMichaelCunningham]

As a city & state 10% of the total after cost should be distributed equally by honorable measures alone..

[@blackelement4037]

Accountability is lacking!

[@nomxhosapekani7966]

I switched off when she called it God's bessing!!

[@landz2228]

thats the problem with africans, they live in dteam planet, this is why chinese and white people keep winning conpmared to africans, ultimatley thse who think realisticaly end up winning, those who keep wishing and hing end up with nothing, we need more ratinal people in africa foreign religions have destryed africans to the extentof not thinking realistically.

[@gmog7857]

Just look at the NMA officials stomach, he is getting richer and richer so making excuses💢💢💢💢💢💢

[@ranellscoggins9632]

We should be pulling the stuff out of the mines and minded it ourself and selling it to the companies but still on a percentage of that company people need Africa Africa needs no one but good leadership that's all African needs engaged leadership for all.

[@Ronsayy]

😢😢😢😢

[@abdoulayebangoura1377]

Our beloved country Sierra Leone 🇸🇱 is rich with minerals resources

[@omarsonko779]

😭😭😭 one day the company will go out of kono i know that

[@emmanuelocansey8723]

Africa is very sick and in need of intelligence maintenance

[@metropolitanmobilemechanic2244]

Mineral Royalties of 51% to adult Sierra Leone Citizens, no foreign Ownership.

[@PNdimZ]

“The government agents are suppose to be challenging the (mining) companies to deliver to the communities”. Sadly they ain’t trying so hard. Their living conditions and environments should be better than they’re.

[@sabanorsanda2384]

Blessed nation ❤️❤️❤️

[@landz2228]

poor people, its a blessing for non sierraleoneans.

[@sabanorsanda2384]

@@landz2228 I c

[@landz2228]

@@sabanorsanda2384 thats the sad truth, its as if africans dont love their children, poverty amidst wealth is not a natural state of things. what is needed is a revolution of the mind and soul, after that chaging oppresive systems will be as easy as walking in the park.

[@sabanorsanda2384]

@@landz2228 anytime I think of My country 😢 I feel pain like never before but we are quick to we pretend like nothing happen before twwwww.....

[@landz2228]

@@sabanorsanda2384 africans love to escape from reality. why are so many africans afraid to control their resources?? they can stop the miners from shipping the diamonds of they dont pay correctly.

[@diddy558]

Follow the Eritrean policy ,on Bisha mining.the locals has to be the first to benefit from it ,in terms of health and education systems and the workers rights has to be in place .starting from getting trained to the highest skill and pension. # respect your self # love an peace # harmony .

[@lagschooladoptionllc]

It is very shameful that with such a resource as diamonds it is no better than the time of slavery. Who are buyers of the diamonds? If it krown, it will alteration. Children must be in school for them to learn. The greed and ignorance is a thick darkness. When will they ever learn to lead? Those leaders make slavery look like a blessing.

[@stevelebbie6252]

So sad my country

[@mindsetofyahweh368]

None of this makes any sense, diamonds are expensive, why are the people who find the diamonds not being paid a percentage of market value. It’s seems as though the miners are just being paid for their labor as opposed to being paid the value of what they have mined.

[@InuqiSevonne]

vote for a Child Labor Laws for child labor to be illegal for children under the age of 20. and make all mining companies be forced to have a UNION in order for their buisness to operate in Salone. if this is law then this will start a chain reaction to how these companies will operate in their country. this is not an impossible solution.

[@sabanorsanda2384]

Sierra Leone can never change see the views of freetown

[@aduring]

You expect such little back for your people and community. If we demanded more. We would get more. The 10% you demand was far too little and you don't even get that back. Imagine. Other countries are demanding 50 to 80% and they are growing and their people are benefiting. what a shame.

[@talibjalloh928]

Sulayman, you can't articulate your points well...

[@ranellscoggins9632]

I believe every African country that is selling their resources should own 25% of the company they're selling to so they also get 25% of the profit That will solve many problems just my two cent.

[@metropolitanmobilemechanic2244]

No more excuses. 100% African Ownership. Just like in Europe & America. Africans must employ Africans. Africans must Mine. Africans must Sort African minerals and Africans must Sell African minerals. The Courts and the EPA in Sierra Leone are corrupt. Remove France & their allies from Sierra Leone.

[@hardzmckinney6279]

Hat off to the sister put show together corruption is the mean thing there just follow the money and it will lead to culprits

[@87anbruttoskuld19]

This international company’s most leave and get owned by the people in Sierra Leone so the can benefit from the profits.

[@adama.kamara]

Sulaiman Korjie said a whole bunch of nothing. Provided answers to questions without answering the questions. It's embarrassing.

[@frederickfarmer3304]

NO; NOT AT ALL!!! Some of us have never, ever seen a diamond live.

[@musakanteh990]

You're totally right, very sad for Africa

[@DaniMeharina-iw2ds]

It’s so sad to see Africa bleeding 🩸 daily because of uneducated dictators. Africa is not free from colonialism and corruption. I hope one day this will change.

[@mayopemayope9180]

How can the real citizens of salon benefit from their minerals if the minerals are controlled by two groups of foreigners that do not belong to salon the Temne APC and Mande SLPP political parties are the problem of saloon.

[@mayopemayope9180]

The Mande and Temne both groups foreigners have always ran the political affairs of salon no wonder salon is in such mess

[@MoAlChronicles]

The government agent is so bad in expressing himself in English.

[@Master_Zu]

How can this guy say natural resources is not the answer? Oh African when are we going to wick up?

[@enochfallahngainda775]

Diamonds have done nothing absolutely for our nation, that is what he meant dear. We have one saying here that says" Sierra Leone is full of diamonds but the citizens have not seen any ie diamonds have brought no benefits to us as people.

[@newtondaley4118]

Bob Marley said in the midst of water the fool is yet thirsty rat race ,what has happened to the African race?

[@shauncameron8390]

Human resources is the name of the game.

[@osmanibarry1271]

I am from Kono the reason the peoples are suffering in Sierra Leone is because of the Government including the peoples them self to blame . Sierra Leonean are not productive peoples they complain more then acting. They're the same peoples that destroy the country out of bad heart now they're complaining. Sierra Leone had been the same way for decades we can have all the Diamonds but if our mind and heart is not good is going to be the same issue. Good heart and good mind goes long way .

[@dorafullah7586]

Rarrr Rarr Rarr....

[@Charlie8-io9mq]

Well take your pick the US china or russia you have to blame someone dont you it cant be your own

[@nowahgaye3854]

The man with the pink shirt is a lier

[@cmartin5903]

Maybe you guys should go and farm, let them dig it themselves. Craftsmanship and other sorts of creativity. The 1% is nothing, the children dont seem to have a future. Something is wrong.

[@omarsonko779]

The company have take 700 akters of land and the community is not good for the people why kono people we see this and do nothing ✊🏿✊🏿✊🏿😭😭