Fatal Mine Collapse in Nyimbadu
Mohamed Bangura, aged 16, and Yayah Jenneh, aged 17, died in a mine collapse in Nyimbadu, Eastern Province, Sierra Leone. The incident occurred recently while the teenagers were engaged in artisanal gold mining activities. This event marks the third fatal mine accident in the region within a four-year period, resulting in a total of at least five child fatalities.
Artisanal Mining and its Context
Headteachers and community activists have reported an increasing trend of children missing school in parts of Sierra Leone to participate in mining precious metals. The Eastern Province, historically recognized for diamond mining, has experienced an expansion of informal gold mining operations due to the depletion of diamond reserves.
Mining sites are established wherever local gold deposits are identified, including on farmland, in former graveyards, and along riverbeds. While few formal mining companies operate in these areas, the landscape is characterized by unregulated pits, some reaching depths of up to 4 meters (13 feet). Similar hazardous mining conditions are documented in various other African countries.
Community Impact and Personal Accounts
Families in Nyimbadu primarily depend on small-scale farming and petty trading for their livelihoods, with limited alternative employment opportunities. Namina Jenneh, Yayah's mother and a widow, stated that she had introduced her son to mining but would have prevented him from going to the specific site if she had been aware. Following the collapse, an excavator was deployed to clear the debris.
Socio-Economic Factors and Child Participation
Sahr Ansumana, a local child protection activist, highlighted that some parents encourage their children to engage in mining due to poverty, widowhood, or single parenthood. Despite previous fatalities, mining activities, including those involving children, continue.
Komba Sesay, aged 17, mines to support his mother and finance his high school examinations, with aspirations of becoming a lawyer. He typically earns approximately $3.50 (£2.65) weekly, though some days can yield up to $35. Sesay acknowledges the inherent risks of the work, noting injuries among his peers.
The impact extends beyond students; Roosevelt Bundo, headteacher of Gbogboafeh Aladura Junior Secondary School, reported that teachers also leave classes to mine alongside students. This is attributed to government salaries being less competitive than potential earnings from gold mining. Over the past two years, what were once small mining camps have developed into towns.
Government Response and Ongoing Challenges
Information Minister Chernor Bah stated the government's commitment to education, citing an allocation of 8.9% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to the sector, which he identified as the highest in the sub-region. These funds are designated for teacher support, school-feeding programs, and subsidies designed to keep children in classrooms.
However, on-the-ground realities often prioritize immediate economic survival over policy implementation. While charities and local activists endeavor to remove children from mining pits and re-enroll them in school, the absence of reliable alternative income sources continues to make mining an attractive option. Mr. Ansumana reiterated the call for direct assistance to the affected communities.