In brief
Sierra Leone’s government has withdrawn treason and conspiracy charges against former president Ernest Bai Koroma, who was charged in connection with a November 2023 coup attempt that released some 2,000 inmates and killed around 20 people. Koroma, who has always denied any role in the event, had spent time in exile in Nigeria and was allowed to return after diplomatic talks involving President Julius Maada Bio and regional body Ecowas. The decision comes amid political tension following a disputed election in which Bio narrowly secured a second term. The removal of these charges marks a step toward legal closure for Koroma, who expressed gratitude toward his opponents and regional allies for restoring his liberty and urged a peaceful path forward for Sierra Leone.
Sierra Leone’s government has annulled the treason and conspiracy charges that were levied against former president Ernest Bai Koroma following an alleged coup attempt in November 2023.
The charges, which had included the crime of treason, were dismissed with no public explanation as to why the state had decided to drop them. Koroma, who has consistently denied any involvement, had been held under house arrest and later exiled to Nigeria in a deal mediated by the West African regional bloc entity Ecowas, before being permitted to return home.
In a statement released after the ruling, Koroma thanked the current Sierra Leonean president, Julius Maada Bio, Nigeria’s president Bola Tinubu and Ecowas for their support. He reiterated his belief that peace, justice and reconciliation must always win over conflict.
The November coup attempt itself freed nearly 2,000 inmates and saw 20 people killed. It followed a contested election in which Bio was narrowly re‑elected for a second term, a result rejected by Koroma’s All People's Congress and criticized by international observers for lack of transparency.
With the charges against Koroma removed, the former president faces no legal impediment to returning to Sierra Leone, marking a potential milestone in the country’s ongoing efforts to move past a period of political instability.
