The former President of Sierra Leone,mPres. Ernest Bai Koroma has returned home after more than a year in exile in Nigeria, ending a dramatic chapter that began with treason charges linked to a failed coup attempt in 2023. The 72-year-old would arrive in Freetown today, September 6, 2026 to a warm reception from supporters, after the government formally dropped all charges against him.
Speaking on the issue, former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan hailed the authorities in Sierra Leone for considering pleas from African leaders to drop all the charges.
“This morning, I had the pleasure of seeing off my dear friend and brother, His Excellency President Ernest Bai Koroma, as he begins his journey home to Sierra Leone. Nigeria was his home away from home for over two years, and I am grateful that we were able to offer friendship, support and solidarity during that period. Working quietly with others, we encouraged dialogue and engagement with the Sierra Leonean authorities to help create the conditions for his safe and dignified return.”
How It Started: The November 2023 Attacks
The crisis began on November 26, 2023, when gunmen stormed military barracks, a prison and other locations in the capital, Freetown.About 2,200 inmates were freed and more than 20 people were killed in the violence.
The government of President Julius Maada Bio described it as a foiled coup attempt and alleged that it was led mostly by Koroma’s former bodyguards. Koroma condemned the attacks shortly after they happened.
But in January 2024, he was charged with four offences including treason for his alleged role. He was placed under house arrest in Freetown while awaiting trial.
“Trumped Up” Charges And Political Tensions
Koroma and his lawyers called the charges “trumped up” and part of a political vendetta. The case came just months after Sierra Leone’s June 2023 presidential election, where President Bio was re-elected for a second term.
The main opposition APC, led by Koroma, rejected the results, and international partners also questioned the vote. There were widespread concerns that prosecuting the former president could deepen political tensions in the West African nation.
ECOWAS Brokered Deal And Exit To Nigeria
On January 17, 2024, a High Court in Freetown ruled that Koroma could travel abroad for medical treatment for up to three months. Days later, he departed Freetown on a Nigerian presidential plane and landed in Abuja, where he was received by Nigerian officials and the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray.
ECOWAS had been mediating in Sierra Leone since the November attacks. The bloc’s president had visited Freetown twice, fuelling speculation that a deal was brokered to allow Koroma to relocate temporarily. Nigeria had earlier offered to host him, according to a letter from ECOWAS.
Charges Dropped, Path To Return
Nearly three years after the incident, Sierra Leone’s government dropped all charges against Koroma, including treason. The Attorney General did not give a reason for the dismissal, but said the former president was free to return home at a time of his choosing.
Responding to the development, Koroma said he has an “enduring conviction that peace, justice and reconciliation must always triumph over adversity.” He also expressed gratitude to President Bio, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, and ECOWAS for their role.
Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, who has mediated in several regional crises, also spoke on the return, saying “This is the role we played” to ensure peace and stability in Sierra Leone.
Koroma’s Legacy
Koroma served as President of Sierra Leone from 2007 to 2018. He handed over power peacefully to President Bio after two terms. He has consistently denied any involvement in the November 2023 coup attempt. His return is being seen as a major step towards political reconciliation ahead of future elections in Sierra Leone.