Millions of dollars lost in fighting over mining towns

Deputy Defence Minister Sam Hinga Norman yesterday said that while Freetown was relatively safe, other areas “are not yet satisfactorily controlled by security [forces],” Reuters reported. He said rebels controlled the districts of Kono, Kailahun and Bombali, including the towns of Kailahun, Koidu and Makeni. Fighting for the eastern diamond mining town of Tongo was continuing, he said, adding it was important for the government to retake the mining areas. “The government has been losing millions of dollars and what is my determination now as deputy defence minister is for [the West African intervention force] ECOMOG and the Kamajors [pro-government militia] to retake the entire Kono district urgently,” he was quoted as saying. Kono is the centre of Sierra Leone’s diamond mining operations. Another eastern diamond mining town, Segbwema, in the southeast, was also reportedly recaptured by ECOMOG, news organisations said.