The High Court of Sierra Leone has ordered Jinshi Mining (SL) Limited to pay NLe 570,000 in unpaid crop compensation to farmers in Mokombay Village, Moyamba District. This ruling, delivered by Honourable Justice Abdul Rahman Mansaray on 2 November 2026, reinforces the rights of landowners under the Customary Land Rights Act 2022.
Justice Mansaray ruled that investors are required to compensate crop owners for losses caused by their activities, as stipulated in Section 39 of the Act. The Court clarified that payments to Paramount Chiefs or other third parties do not meet this obligation unless explicitly authorised by the crop owners.
The judgement follows a legal case supported by Namati Sierra Leone, representing farmers affected by Jinshi Mining’s rutile operations. The Chinese-owned company expanded its mining activities into farmland belonging to six villages in Lower Banta Chiefdom in 2024, destroying crops vital for local families’ income. Although compensation was initially agreed upon, farmers in Mokombay claimed they never received it. Jinshi Mining contended they had fulfilled their obligation through payments made to the Paramount Chief.
The lack of compensation has severely impacted affected families. Victor Musa, a farmer, explained how it disrupted children’s education: “Our children’s education has been at a standstill for months because we were relying on that money to pay school fees. Since we haven’t received it, we’ve been unable to pay, and some of our children have been forced to drop out.”
Justice Mansaray dismissed the company’s defence, stressing that crop owners must be the direct recipients of compensation. He stated that customary practices cannot override legislative mandates, adding that allowing third-party payments could lead to misappropriation and delays for the crop owners.
Morie Marju, an affected landowner, expressed relief at the ruling: “We are very happy with the judgement. It was a real struggle…Namati came through for us.”
This judgement underscores the authority of the Customary Land Rights Act, reinforcing its importance in safeguarding community rights against large-scale investments. It sends a clear message to investors about their legal obligations, while Namati highlighted the vital role of legal empowerment in helping communities assert their rights and demand accountability.
