Illegal mining activities have resurfaced at Lake Sonfon in Diang Chiefdom, Koinadugu District, despite a government order banning all forms of mining in the area. The renewed operations have triggered widespread concern over environmental destruction, water pollution, and the erosion of the lake’s cultural and spiritual significance.
Local residents, who rely on the lake for fishing, farming, and traditional practices, say the illegal miners have returned in large numbers, using heavy machinery and toxic chemicals that are contaminating the water and destroying surrounding ecosystems. The once serene environment has now become a scene of degradation and fear.
Lake Sonfon, often described as a sacred and historic natural landmark, holds deep cultural meaning for the people of Koinadugu. It is revered as a place of ancestral connection and traditional rituals — a symbol of spiritual unity and heritage now under threat from unchecked exploitation.
A new investigative documentary sheds light on the alarming resurgence of illegal mining at the lake, featuring first-hand accounts from affected residents, environmental activists, and local leaders calling for urgent government intervention and enforcement.
The documentary, produced with support from BBC Media Action and funded by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and co-funded by the European Union (EU), underscores the need for sustainable protection of one of Sierra Leone’s most important natural and cultural heritage sites.
