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Society & Natural Resources
An International Journal
Volume 26, 2013 - Issue 3
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Articles

Company–Community Conflicts Over Diamond Resources in Kono District, Sierra Leone

Pages 254-269 | Received 09 Jan 2011, Accepted 29 Jan 2012, Published online: 18 Jul 2012
 

Abstract

Utilizing actor-oriented political ecology and social movements approaches, this article examines the dynamics surrounding company–community conflicts over diamonds in Sierra Leone, using Kono District as a case study. Surveys of 240 households in four diamondiferous chiefdoms, semiformal interviews, focus groups, and secondary data sources provided data for this article. Findings of this study show that post conflict mining reforms and actions of mining companies, the state and traditional leaders favor industrial mining expansion over artisanal mining. Such actions have reinforced unequal power relations over access to land and diamond mining rights to the disadvantage of mining communities and bred company–community conflicts in Kono District. The article argues that strategies that even out power differentials so that local communities benefit more from regulation relative to corporations and other powerful actors can improve the success of mining reforms and reduce the risk of community–company conflicts jeopardizing peace and security.

Notes

Political ecology explains how political, economic, and ecological or natural resource processes and actions of various actors at different scales coalesce to constrain options for human agency available at the local scale.

Critiques underline the challenges it faces in understanding changing patterns at regional or supraregional levels by studying the local embeddness of global phenomenon.

Social activists can play the power game toward constructive or destructive ends (Marfo Citation2006).

Spaces of engagement refers to the space in which the politics of securing a space or strengthening their spaces of dependence unfolds (Cox Citation1998).

The United Nations (UN) defines conflict diamonds as “diamonds that originate from areas controlled by forces or factions opposed to legitimate and internationally recognized governments, and are used to fund military action in opposition to those governments, or in contravention of the decisions of the Security Council” (UN 2000).

However, mining communities received one-fourth of the 3% export tax for community development. Kono District had received a total of $1,604,818 for the period 2001 to 2009 (MMR 2010). Chiefdom committees, also receive surface rent, and 0.01% of companies’ profit as an agricultural development fund.

Chiefs are assured of regular payment of surface rents and some are accused of receiving “extra gifts” from companies.

Artisanal mining license can be renewed each year after the initial duration.

As of 2007, the MMR had assigned 94% of artisanal mining land to companies for prospecting, exploration, and extraction (Le Billon and Levin Citation2009).

Youth focus group, May 2008.

They also mentioned that they would have derived more money from mining if they had been allowed to do so.

Mining advocacy organizations includes the Network Movement of Justice and Development (NMJD), Campaign for Just Mining (CJM), and the National Advocacy Coalition of Extractives (NACE).

Focus group, May 2008.

The primary host community is the single community of persons mutually agreed by the holder of the small-scale or large-scale mining license and the local council.

Most interviewees perceived senior mines authorities as proindustrial mining.

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