Former Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma will return to his home country this weekend after treason charges against him were dropped, Vice President Mohamed Jukdeh Jalloh said Friday.
Jalloh made the announcement in Makeni, Koroma’s political stronghold, telling local leaders and residents that the decision was made “in the spirit of peace and national cohesion.” His remarks were shared in a video posted on Facebook.
Koroma, who served as president from 2007 to 2018, had been living in Nigeria since early 2024. He left Sierra Leone days after being charged with treason and other offenses in connection with a deadly uprising in November 2023. Judicial authorities initially cleared him to remain in Nigeria for three months for medical treatment, but he stayed for more than two years.
In July, Sierra Leone’s justice ministry announced that charges against Koroma had been dropped, although no reason was given. The former president briefly returned to Sierra Leone that same month to attend a summit of the Economic Community of West African States, at the invitation of current President Julius Maada Bio.
The 2023 unrest began when armed attackers stormed a military armory, two barracks, two prisons and two police stations, clashing with security forces. Twenty-one people were killed, and hundreds of prisoners escaped before authorities regained control. Officials described the incident as a coup attempt.
Following the uprising, a military court sentenced two dozen soldiers and Koroma’s former bodyguard to prison terms ranging from 50 to 100 years for their alleged roles in the mutiny.
Koroma’s return comes as Sierra Leone looks ahead to presidential elections scheduled for 2028. His reappearance on the political stage is expected to draw significant attention, although he has not publicly commented on any future political ambitions.
