Former Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma to Return Home After Treason Charges Dropped
Former Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma is expected to return home this weekend, more than two years after leaving the country amid treason charges linked to a failed 2023 coup attempt.
Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh announced Koroma’s return on Friday during a gathering in the former president’s political stronghold of Makeni, describing the move as part of efforts to promote peace and national reconciliation.
Koroma, who served as president from 2007 to 2018, left Sierra Leone for Nigeria in January 2024 after being charged with treason and other offences over the November 2023 uprising. He had initially been permitted to remain in Nigeria for medical treatment for three months but stayed for more than two years.
In July, Sierra Leone’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice discontinued the criminal proceedings against Koroma, effectively clearing the way for his return. The government did not publicly provide a detailed explanation for the decision.
The November 2023 violence left 21 people dead and led to the arrest and prosecution of dozens of people. Several military officers and other suspects were subsequently convicted and handed lengthy prison sentences.
Koroma’s return could mark a significant step in easing tensions between President Julius Maada Bio’s government and the opposition All People’s Congress, which Koroma previously led.
The development also comes amid broader efforts to strengthen political reconciliation in Sierra Leone following years of tension surrounding the 2023 elections and the failed coup.
