Sambaya Rejects Equal CDA Sharing, Demands Fair Allocation from Simbili Mining Operations

By Fatmata Bundu

(232news)

 

Tensions are escalating in Sambaya Chiefdom as local authorities, community stakeholders, and residents strongly oppose what they describe as an inequitable distribution of the Community Development Agreement (CDA) Fund generated from mining operations at the Simbili site.

At the heart of the dispute is the claim that the Simbili mining site is geographically situated within Sambaya Chiefdom, yet the CDA funds are being shared equally among three chiefdoms—Sambaya, Simiria, and Dansogoia. Leaders in Sambaya argue that such an arrangement fails to reflect the actual location and impact of the mining activities.

The mining operations in question are conducted by Leone Rock Mining Company, whose presence at Simbili has significantly altered the socio-economic and environmental landscape of the host community. Stakeholders insist that while regional cooperation is important, fairness must be grounded in factual land ownership and operational footprint.

Paramount Chief and Member of Parliament, Alhaj Musa Bamba Foray Jalloh III, has been vocal in articulating the chiefdom’s concerns. He emphasized that the issue is not about surface rent or political rivalry but about the proper allocation of community development resources intended for directly impacted areas.

“This is not about surface rent. This is about the Community Development Fund,” Chief Jalloh stressed. “If the mining site is in Sambaya, why should the CDA be divided equally among three chiefdoms? Development funds must correspond with the level of impact and land usage.”

The Community Development Agreement Fund is designed to finance projects such as road rehabilitation, schools, health facilities, water systems, and livelihood programs for communities affected by mining. However, Sambaya stakeholders argue that equal sharing weakens the chiefdom’s ability to address pressing development needs arising from mining operations.

Residents say they continue to endure daily hardships linked to the mining activities, including excessive dust pollution, damaged feeder roads caused by heavy-duty trucks, strain on local water sources, and the steady degradation of farmlands that many families depend on for survival.

Community youth leaders and women’s groups have also expressed concern that the limited funds reaching Sambaya have not been sufficient to tackle unemployment, environmental restoration, and social infrastructure deficits. They believe that a proportional allocation formula would better serve the host population.

Stakeholders argue that an equal three-way division disregards the principle of impact-based compensation, which underpins most community development frameworks in extractive industries. According to them, communities bearing the highest environmental and social costs should logically receive a larger share of the benefits.

Local authorities are now calling on the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources to conduct an independent assessment of the mining footprint at Simbili. They propose that verified geographical data and operational intensity should guide the distribution of CDA funds moving forward.

Some community elders warn that failure to address the issue transparently could breed resentment and undermine the spirit of cooperation among neighboring chiefdoms. They insist that their demand is not aimed at excluding others but at ensuring justice for the host community.

Chief Jalloh reiterated that Sambaya remains committed to peaceful dialogue and lawful engagement with both the company and government authorities. He noted that the chiefdom supports investment and national development but cannot ignore the concerns of its people.

“Our people are not asking for conflict,” he concluded. “We are asking for justice and fairness. The host community must not be placed on equal footing with non-host communities when it comes to development benefits.”

As discussions continue, Sambaya residents remain steadfast in their demand for a revised CDA framework one that clearly recognizes Sambaya as the home of the Simbili mining site and ensures that community development funds genuinely reflect the realities on the ground.