Key facts
- Sierra Leone's government has dropped treason charges against former President Ernest Bai Koroma.
Sierra Leone's government has dropped treason charges against former President Ernest Bai Koroma, who was arrested in connection with an attempted coup in November 2023. Koroma, who had been living in exile in Nigeria, is now free to return to his home country.
The dropping of treason charges against a former head of state signifies a potential de-escalation of political tensions and a move towards reconciliation following a period of unrest and attempted coup.
Sierra Leone's government has dismissed treason charges against former President Ernest Bai Koroma, who had been arrested in connection with an attempted coup in November 2023. Koroma, 72, had been living in exile in Nigeria since January 2024, following a deal brokered by the West African regional bloc Ecowas. The charges included treason, which Koroma has consistently denied. The attempted coup involved gunmen attacking a military armoury and prisons, leading to the escape of nearly 2,000 inmates. In response to the charges being dropped, Koroma expressed his belief in peace, justice, and reconciliation, and thanked President Bio of Sierra Leone, President Tinubu of Nigeria, and Ecowas for their support. The office of Sierra Leone's attorney general confirmed that Koroma is now permitted to return to his home country. Koroma served as president for 11 years until 2018, when he was succeeded by the current president, Julius Maada Bio.