By Mabinty M. Kamara
A coalition of civil society organizations in the mining and extractive sector have welcomed the move taken by the Sierra Leone government against two mining companies found wanting for violating the cntrry’s mining laws.
The NaRGEJ Network, a collaborative initiative of groups and individuals working to secure economic and social justice through human rights in the natural resource sector, said more and tougher actions were needed from the government for a lasting solution to the problems besetting the mining sector.
The government last week announced the cancelation of the license of a leading iron ore miner, Shandong and suspended indefinitely the operations of another miner, the US-owned SL Mining. The two companies were accused by the government of, among others, failing to meet financial obligations in terms of royalties and for withholding information relevant for the operation of the National Minerals Agency (NMA).
The NaRGEJ Network, which comprises leading organisations like the Freetown-based Network Movement for Justice and Development and Transparency International, highlighted seven areas they want the government to see changes in to avoid recurrence of the situation that led to the penalization of the two companies. They include the review of the Mines and Minerals Act 2009. They are calling for all Mining Lease Agreements to be reviewed so as to realign them with the Mining Policy and ensure they are consistent with international best practices, as well as the enactment of an Extractive Industry Revenue Bill.
NaRGEJ seeks to facilitate joint actions, enhancing communication and building solidarity across regions, build a national movement to make responsible natural resource governance, human rights and social justice a reality for all.
While praising initial steps taken by the Bio administration, the group said more actions were needed to change the trajectory for the ordinary Serra Leonean.
“NaRGEJ holds the view that more comprehensive actions with rights-based and people-centered processes are needed in order to respond more effectively to the critical nature of the problems besetting the sector,” it said in the statement signed by representatives of NMJD and TI, co-leads in the coalition.
“As NaRGEJ endorses the present suspensions and cancellations of Licenses, it also calls government to slam a moratorium on all large- scale mining companies until due diligence is done on all of them,” it added.
© 2019 Politico Online
