Thousands Homeless as Land Grabs Intensify

Residents and human rights groups warn that a surge in land seizures and forced evictions is uprooting communities across Sierra Leone, displacing thousands and deepening tensions over land ownership and governance. From rural chiefdoms to informal urban settlements, poorly documented land deals and aggressive enforcement have left families homeless and livelihoods destroyed. One of the most contentious cases is at Black Johnson Beach near Freetown, where villagers report that armed men, allegedly backed by police, bulldozed large sections of the community, f lattening homes, churches, markets, and playgrounds. Dozens of families were evicted as landowners laid claim to approximately 328 acres. “They have turned us into refugees in our own homeland,” one resident lamented. The area is also the proposed site of a Chinese-funded fish harbour promoted by the government. Land acquisition for the project began in 2021, with plans to clear several villages. Authorities moved to demolish two eco-resorts—Yenkai and Tito’s Paradise—along with dozens of private homes. Property owners say they received no prior notice or compensation, despite holding documents proving ownership. Resort owner Abdulai Dumbuya described the demolitions as “heartbreaking,” saying decades of personal savings were wiped out overnight. In 2021, residents and environmental groups wrote to President Julius Maada Bio, describing the project as a “human and ecological disaster” and demanding transparency and a full environmental impact assessment. In the south, land disputes linked to agricultural concessions have persisted for more than a decade. A 2011 lease granted Socfin, a multinational palm oil company, control over 6,500 hectares of land in Malen Chiefdom, affecting some 30 communities. Villagers protested what they described as a lack of consultation and inadequate compensation, leading to demonstrations and confrontations in 2013. After years of legal battles, the government brokered a settlement in August 2025. Socfin, community representatives, and a newly formed Malen Development Committee signed a memorandum of understanding to review the lease and invest in local development projects. While the government hailed the agreement as a “win-win-win,” international observers note that grievances were well-founded. An Oakland Institute investigation, drawing on a company audit, documented unpaid compensation, legal violations, and cases of forced evictions affecting local farmers. Urban areas, particularly Freetown, have also seen repeated evictions targeting informal settlements. In August 2024, the Freetown City Council demolished around 200 makeshift homes in Kroo Bay, citing illegal land reclamation and flood risks. Although officials said community meetings were held and mangroves would be replanted to protect the coastline, critics argue the exercise left many residents homeless without alternative accommodation. The demolition echoed earlier clearances, including the 2015 destruction of Crab Town near Aberdeen Beach, which displaced an estimated 9,000 people. Activists say such evictions routinely wipe out schools, churches, and small businesses built by the urban poor, who often lack formal land t itles. The government’s response has been mixed. President Bio has publicly condemned illegal land grabbing, warning that “no one is above the law,” amid reports that some politicians and judicial officers have sold state land for personal gain. He has pledged to empower local authorities to report illegal transactions and promised accountability. At the same time, critics argue that major infrastructure projects continue to be pushed through without meaningful community consultation. In an effort to address longstanding land conflicts, Parliament passed two landmark laws in 2022. The Customary Land Rights Act guarantees free, prior, and informed consent of landowning communities before any large-scale investment. The National Land Commission Act establishes land use committees in chiefdoms, with at least 30 percent female representation, to oversee land administration. The laws also prohibit large-scale farming, mining, or logging in protected forests and ecologically sensitive areas. Observers have described the reforms as unprecedented, saying they give communities legal protections long denied to them. For rural farmers and the urban poor, however, the damage is already profound. Entire villages have lost ancestral lands, graves, schools, and places of worship. Fishers and traders report losing access to beaches and markets, while women—particularly in plantation areas like Malen—say land deals have stripped them of farms that once fed their families. Civil society organisations and the media continue to play a central role in highlighting abuses. Groups such as Green Scenery and Namati Sierra Leone have mobilised communities to seek redress through petitions and the courts, while slum dwellers’ federations work with international partners to monitor demolitions and negotiate resettlement. As reports of land-related abuses gain national and international attention, pressure is mounting on the government to fully enforce the 2022 land reforms and protect Sierra Leone’s most vulnerable communities