Former President Dr Ernest Bai Koroma has been given a warm and grand reception by supporters, residents and well-wishers in Makeni, his hometown in the Northern Region, following his return to Sierra Leone.
Large crowds turned out as the former Head of State made his way into the northern city, creating a celebratory atmosphere that underscored the enduring support he continues to enjoy in Bombali District and across the North, a traditional stronghold of his All People’s Congress (APC) party.
Koroma’s visit to Makeni comes shortly after he returned to the country on 6 September 2026, ending more than two years in Nigeria. His homecoming was made possible through regional diplomatic efforts involving ECOWAS and Nigeria, after the Sierra Leone Government discontinued criminal proceedings against him in July 2026.
The charges, including treason, related to the November 2023 attacks on military facilities, prisons and police stations in Freetown in which 21 people were killed, events the authorities described as an attempted coup. Koroma has consistently denied any involvement. He had left for Nigeria in January 2024 after a court granted him permission to travel on medical grounds; what was initially expected to be a temporary stay extended beyond two years.
He arrived in Freetown on 6 September accompanied by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu. Sierra Leone’s Foreign Minister and senior APC officials received him. Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, who helped facilitate the process, publicly saw him off and described Nigeria as Koroma’s “home away from home” during the period.
Since returning, Koroma has publicly thanked President Julius Maada Bio for enabling his homecoming. At a meeting at State House on 7 September, attended by Vice President Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, the former President expressed joy at being back and pledged to contribute to national cohesion, peace and development. He emphasised that his commitment to Sierra Leone transcends political differences and offered his experience whenever needed. President Bio welcomed him and noted the value of his service as a former Head of State.
Vice President Jalloh had earlier announced the return during a gathering of local leaders and residents in Makeni, framing it in the spirit of peace and national cohesion ahead of the 2028 elections.
Koroma, 72, served as President from 2007 to 2018. His return marks a significant moment in Sierra Leone’s recent political history, with observers viewing the reception in Makeni and the State House meeting as signals of efforts toward reconciliation and reduced tensions after a difficult period.
The events highlight both personal homecoming for the former leader and broader national themes of unity that have been emphasised by both current and former leadership.
