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The Environment Protection Agency Sierra Leone has launched enforcement actions against illegal mining activities along sections of the Rokel River following the circulation of a viral video showing local miners operating on the exposed riverbed during the temporary closure of the weirs for maintenance.
According to the EPA-SL, preliminary findings revealed that artisanal mining along parts of the riverbed has historically taken place during periods when water levels are lowered for dam maintenance.
However, the agency expressed serious concern over this year’s activities after reports indicated the use of excavators, which significantly increased the scale of operations and the potential environmental impact on the river system.
In response to the reports, the EPA’s Northern Region Team conducted a raid earlier this week targeting the mining activities.
During the operation, several mining-related water pumps were destroyed, while an excavator operator was arrested and later handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department at the Mena Police Station in Makeni for further investigation.
The agency further disclosed that it engaged local authorities, including the Paramount Chief and a section chief who also serves as the area’s mining chairman, regarding the situation. According to the EPA, the Paramount Chief informed the agency that community-level interventions had already been introduced to address the issue.
These measures included the establishment of a joint patrol team comprising personnel from the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces and the Sierra Leone Police. The EPA stated that the local enforcement efforts appeared to have contributed to a noticeable reduction in excavator activities during the agency’s follow-up visit to the affected area.
The EPA described riverbed mining, particularly activities involving heavy machinery, as a major environmental threat. The agency warned that such operations along the Rokel River could disrupt the natural river system, damage aquatic habitats, increase sedimentation, alter water flow patterns, undermine energy supply systems, and threaten communities that depend on the river for water and livelihoods.
The agency stated that it will continue to closely monitor developments and provide updates on any further regulatory or enforcement measures deemed necessary.
The EPA also encouraged members of the public to support environmental protection efforts by reporting environmental violations across the country through its toll-free hotline, 1999, accessible via Orange lines.
The information was provided by the Environment Protection Agency Sierra Leone in an official update regarding the ongoing enforcement operation along the Rokel River.
