Sierra Leone: Ex-President Koroma Returns After Treason Case Withdrawal

Former Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma returned to Sierra Leone from Nigeria on Sunday, following the withdrawal of criminal proceedings against him, which had included treason charges. Mr. Koroma, who served as president from 2007 to 2018, had been residing in Nigeria for over two years, having initially departed Sierra Leone in January 2024 after a high court granted him permission to travel on medical grounds despite facing an indictment. The charges against him were linked to an alleged role in a failed military coup attempt in November 2023, which involved attacks on military barracks and a prison, resulting in casualties and a mass prison break. His return was facilitated through dialogue and engagement with Sierra Leonean authorities, as confirmed by former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, who had hosted Mr. Koroma.