Freetown, Sierra Leone – A high-level delegation from the All People’s Congress (APC) is set to travel to Abuja, Nigeria, on February 9, 2025, to visit former President Ernest Bai Koroma, who is currently in Nigeria for medical treatment.
The delegation comprises National Chairman Hon. Minkailu Mansaray, Deputy National Chairman, National Secretary General, and National Publicity Secretary. Their visit aims to connect with the former leader and assess his well-being. During their absence, National Organising Secretary Bai Mahmoud Bangura will oversee the party’s affairs, ensuring continuous communication with the National Chairman.
This visit comes in the context of significant legal and political developments.
In January 2024, former President Koroma was granted permission by Sierra Leone’s High Court to travel to Nigeria for specialized medical care, despite facing treason charges related to an alleged coup attempt in November 2023. The court allowed a three-month period for his treatment, during which his trial was suspended.
The decision to permit Koroma’s travel was described by President Julius Maada Bio as a “humanitarian gesture.” However, there has been widespread speculation that the move was part of a deal brokered by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to ease political tensions in Sierra Leone.
Anonymous sources from the United Nations and ECOWAS have indicated that an agreement was reached for Koroma to go into exile in Nigeria, with assurances that he would continue to enjoy the privileges of a former president during his stay.
As of September 2024, Koroma remained in Nigeria, leading to public discourse in Sierra Leone regarding the true nature of his prolonged stay—whether it is solely for medical reasons or constitutes a form of political exile. The situation continues to be closely monitored, given its implications for Sierra Leone’s political stability and legal processes.
The APC delegation’s visit is expected to provide clarity on Koroma’s health status and discuss the party’s future direction amid these ongoing challenges.
