Fatima Babih, EdD
As Koidu Holdings suspends operations and over 900 workers remain jobless, the recent audio leak has significantly altered the public’s understanding of Fatima Bio’s so-called fight for justice. The people of Kono are now seeing through the broken promises and the true extent of the fractured economy.
What’s Going On Sierra Leone?
Kono District is in turmoil, not because of an international crisis or natural disaster, but because an unhinged First Lady, Fatima Jabbie Bio, has chosen to wage a personal war against Koidu Holdings, a significant investment partner in the country. This diamond mining company has long operated in the Kono District.
Some Sierra Leoneans quickly embraced Mrs. Bio’s narrative that her sudden activism on behalf of the mine’s workers was rooted in compassion and justice. She claimed the company paid low wages and denied workers basic facilities like toilets, healthcare, and water. But a now-viral audio conversation between a Paramount Chief (PC) and a Displaced Worker (DW) paints a very different and sobering picture.
In the audio, the DP pleads with the PC for intervention, worried that Koidu Holdings may be preparing to exit permanently. He observes that the company appears to be removing its equipment and fears the permanent loss of livelihood for many, asking,
Where will we find other jobs if the company closes permanently?
The PC tries to offer some comfort, reminding the DW that at least he has learned a trade and could repair generators. But both the PC and the DW quickly retort,
How many people have generators in Kono?
This starkly reflects the region’s limited economic opportunities without Koidu Holdings.
The PC does not hide his frustration. He reminds the DW of how he had advised workers against their confrontational approach toward the company, but he was branded the enemy. Meanwhile, figures like the Koidu Mayor and the First Lady were embraced.
Are they feeding the 900 displaced workers now?
The Chief asks with frustration.
PC continues: Because of cheap politics, some people brought in the First Lady, assuring her that by protesting with the workers, the whole of Kono would love her. That might be true, but if interference backfires, the whole of Kono will hate you.
Damaging Lies and National Silence
When asked about the truth of the First Lady’s claims against Koidu Holding, the DW calmly dismantles them:
PC: Did you go to the bush to use the Toilet?
DW: No, Sir, we were not going in the bush.
PC: Did you not have a workers’ Clinic?
DW: Yes, Sir, we had a clinic.
PC: Did you not have drinking Water?
DW: Yes, Sir, there was water.
The PC says that Mrs. Bio’s false public accusations have tarnished the company’s image internationally. It’s like someone falsely accusing you of rape, it follows you everywhere, he says. People may not want to buy diamonds from a company accused of worker abuse.
He notes with pain that despite these damaging claims, no government official has stepped forward to correct the record or distance themselves from Fatima Bio’s remarks. Now, the company is forced to fight back with international legal action and shutdowns.
The Economic Fallout in Kono
The PC describes a local economic crisis impacting the workers, him, his chiefdom, and the whole district. He points out that,
- He has had to pause development projects due to a lack of funding from the company.
- 33 college students on Koidu Holdings’ scholarships are at risk of dropping out if the company withdraws permanently.
- Workers who once earned more than many teachers and lecturers with degrees face a livelihood crisis.
- Once funded by the company, emergency support for the district and local development initiatives stopped.
The PC also emphasized a critical legal reality that people like Fatima Bio have ignored:
The company’s agreement with the government is a law approved by Parliament. Attacking a company that has not broken the law will not hold. Why can’t people understand that?
His words underline a sobering truth: Koidu Holdings is not operating illegally or informally. Its presence in Kono is not a result of a casual agreement but is backed by a legal contract ratified by Sierra Leone’s legislative body. For the First Lady to say to the company, pack up and leave Kono; challenge the legal arrangement without authority, due process, or government backing is not just reckless, but a direct undermining of the rule of law.
While the victims of her actions suffer, the First Lady and her husband continue their frequent travel abroad, unaffected.
Bringing politics into things is not a good thing, the Chief warns.
He lamented that Koidu Holdings did not even close during Ebola or COVID. But now, they’ve shut their doors because of false claims and political games.
The Havoc Caused by Fatima Bio
This viral audio has exposed the real cost of Fatima Bio’s interference more than any press conference or protest. In her pursuit of power and political control, she has,
- Hijacked a labor dispute, sidelining elected and traditional authorities,
- Plunged an entire district into economic collapse,
- Tarnished the international reputation of a key investment partner,
- Leftover 900+ workers unemployed.
But she and her family remain untouched, safe behind presidential luxury, flying abroad in private jets, flashing wealth on social media.
In the end, the Paramount Chief asked the right question,
Are we thinking about those people who are suffering?
Fatima Bio is clearly not thinking about them. She has offered them no explanations or financial assistance. And worse, she has trampled over legal boundaries in the process, as she continues to harass the company with threats of frivolous legal action.
Reference: Audio Aired on Wi Yard
Where Is the First Lady Now? Kono Chief Speaks Out: Pain & Frustration Over Koidu Holdings Closure
MAMA SALONE ~ Lioness of the West Coast 