LUNGI, Sierra Leone — President Julius Maada Bio and former President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma shared a warm public greeting and meeting inside the hall of the Julius Maada Bio International Conference Centre during the 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.
Guinea’s President General Mamady Doumbouya joined President Bio and Dr. Koroma during the encounter, adding a regional dimension to the display of cordiality.
The moment, which took place on Saturday, 19 July 2026, carries deep significance for Sierra Leoneans. It comes just days after the government discontinued treason-related charges against Dr. Koroma, paving the way for his return home from medical exile in Nigeria.
On 14 July 2026, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice filed a Notice of Discontinuance under Section 45 of the Criminal Procedure Act, effectively ending the criminal proceedings against Dr. Koroma. The high-profile case, which included charges of treason and misprision of treason linked to the November 2023 events, was discontinued primarily on health grounds.
Dr. Koroma, who has always denied any involvement in the alleged coup attempt, had been living in Nigeria since early 2024. Parliament unanimously endorsed the decision shortly afterward, framing it as a step toward national healing, reconciliation, and confidence-building.
This development allowed the former president to return to Sierra Leone as a free man and attend the ECOWAS Summit at the personal invitation of President Bio.
Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama praised President Bio’s gesture, calling it a demonstration of political maturity and leadership that strengthens Sierra Leone’s democratic credentials.
The summit, hosted for the first time by Sierra Leone in Lungi (following earlier sessions in Freetown), focuses on critical regional issues including security, economic integration, the advancement of the Nigeria-Morocco Atlantic Gas Pipeline, and strengthening ECOWAS amid ongoing challenges.
As discussions continue at the summit, this moment underscores Sierra Leone’s commitment to peace, reconciliation, and playing a constructive role in West African affairs.
