Lungi/Freetown, Sierra Leone – Former President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma has left Sierra Leone and returned to Nigeria after attending the 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, held at the Julius Maada Bio International Conference Centre in Lungi.
Koroma’s visit marked his first return to Sierra Leone since January 2024, when he traveled to Nigeria for medical treatment amid legal proceedings related to alleged involvement in a 2023 coup attempt.
He arrived in Lungi on Sunday aboard a Nigerian presidential fleet aircraft at the invitation of the ECOWAS Chair, President Julius Maada Bio.
The high-profile summit, hosted by Sierra Leone for the first time in nearly 50 years, focused on regional security, democratic governance, economic integration, trade, infrastructure development, and sustainable development under the theme emphasizing peace and stability in West Africa.
Leaders and representatives discussed pressing challenges, including political transitions, security threats, and fostering stronger regional cooperation. Nigeria was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, while side meetings addressed issues such as Afrophobic attacks on migrants.
Political analysts view Koroma’s participation as a significant step toward dialogue and reconciliation in Sierra Leone, highlighting ECOWAS’s role in promoting peace-building and democratic engagement across the sub-region.
Koroma, who served as President of Sierra Leone from 2007 to 2018, was accompanied by a small team of aides during his brief stay. His departure back to Nigeria comes as the summit concludes, with ECOWAS leaders adopting strategic resolutions aimed at advancing West African unity and development.
This event underscores Sierra Leone’s growing prominence in regional diplomacy and the continued engagement of former leaders in fostering stability.
