Media Alliance and Land for Life expose how the Human Cost of Mining in Sierra Leone has affected food security and the environment.
In November 2025, Land for Life, alongside members of the Media Alliance for Land Governance Team, embarked on a field mission across several mining-affected districts in Sierra Leone to document firsthand the environmental and human impact of unchecked mining activities on local communities. What the team encountered was alarming, painful, and impossible to ignore.
Across every community visited, one disturbing reality emerged: water sources that once sustained life and livelihoods have now become sources of suffering. Rivers, streams, and wetlands that generations depended on for drinking, cooking, washing, farming, and bathing are today heavily polluted and unsafe for human use.
The visit formed part of ongoing environmental justice and advocacy efforts aimed at amplifying the voices of communities affected by destructive mining operations and exposing the growing threats to water security and human dignity in Sierra Leone.
In Kumaroh Village, Kono District, residents expressed deep frustration over the destruction of their river systems by mining activities. A community leader lamented:
“The Government is every day giving licenses for mining in our riverbeds. The Chinese and Ghanaians are here destroying our water.”
The Media Alliance Team documented visible environmental degradation in the area, including muddy and contaminated streams, damaged farmlands, and weakened community access to clean water.
In Manokoh Village, Port Loko District, the situation was equally severe. Community members revealed that a mining company had diverted critical water sources into its processing facilities, leaving residents with contaminated wastewater that is unfit for consumption. According to local testimonies, the discharge has also contributed to flooding in seven surrounding villages, worsening living conditions and threatening livelihoods.
Beyond the environmental destruction, the mission uncovered serious concerns relating to human rights, civic space, and community safety.
The Town Chief of Manokoh Village recounted the challenges communities face whenever they attempt to raise concerns or protest against mining activities:
“When we protest, police officers come and arrest us. A few months ago, we staged a protest, houses were ransacked, and the police beat both the old and the young. We are not allowed to speak of our frustrations.”
These testimonies reflect a broader pattern of environmental injustice and the silencing of vulnerable communities whose lives and survival depend on access to clean and safe water.
Through this field engagement, the Media Alliance Team and Land for Life reinforced the urgent need for stronger environmental accountability, responsible mining practices, and the protection of community rights. The mission also highlighted the critical role of the media in documenting realities on the ground, amplifying marginalized voices, and promoting transparency in natural resource governance.
Land for Life and its partners continue to stand in solidarity with affected communities across Sierra Leone. The organization calls on the Government of Sierra Leone, regulatory institutions, and all actors within the mining sector to take immediate action to protect water sources, hold perpetrators accountable, and restore dignity and justice to impacted communities.
Please view the full documentary on the Land for Life YouTube page:
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