Former Koidu Limited Employees Take Legal Action, Reject Government Involvement

Former employees of Koidu Limited have issued a public statement to clarify their position in the ongoing High Court proceedings against the company, emphasizing that the Government of Sierra Leone is not involved and has no authority to negotiate on their behalf.

The statement, dated 19th August 2025, comes in response to a release by Koidu Limited on 18th August, which announced that the company had engaged the London-based law firm Mishcon de Reya LLP to negotiate with the government over alleged breaches of its Mining Lease Agreement.

According to the former employees, the dispute is strictly an industrial relations matter between themselves and Koidu Limited, unrelated to the government. “The Government did not in any way encourage us to institute the said actions, nor are they supporting us in our proceedings,” the statement read.

The former employees are seeking a total claim of USD $49,085,147.63, plus interest and damages, in two legal actions currently before the High Court. They have instructed the Court to determine:

Whether Koidu Limited can unilaterally set the exchange rate of the United States Dollar in Sierra Leone, in contravention of the Bank of Sierra Leone Act (No. 5 of 2019, as amended); and

Whether employees who resigned a month prior to the company’s mass dismissal are entitled to end-of-service benefits under the Employment Act (No. 15 of 2023).

The former employees also noted that their solicitors are pursuing additional claims of human rights violations in regional and international forums.

The statement highlighted that the High Court has already granted injunctive relief, freezing all physical and financial assets of Koidu Limited.

The former employees assured the public that updates will be provided as the proceedings progress.