FREETOWN – Former President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma has landed at Freetown International Airport (Lungi), marking his return to Sierra Leone amid heightened public and political interest.
His arrival follows the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice’s decision in mid-July 2026 to discontinue the treason and misprision of treason case against him, linked to the November 2023 events. The notice of discontinuance was filed under Section 45 of the Criminal Procedure Act, 2024, clearing the legal path for his return after more than two years based primarily in Nigeria.
Koroma, who served as President from 2007 to 2018, had earlier made a brief visit to the country in July 2026 to attend the 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, hosted in Lungi at the invitation of President Julius Maada Bio. That appearance came shortly after the charges were dropped and was widely viewed as a step toward national reconciliation.
Senior executives and supporters of the All People’s Congress (APC), along with family members, are expected to receive the former President. Political observers will closely monitor his engagements, public statements, and interactions with party structures and other stakeholders in the coming days.
Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh recently described the homecoming as being undertaken “in the spirit of peace and national cohesion.”
The development occurs against the backdrop of ongoing efforts to ease political tensions and ahead of the 2028 general elections.
Koroma’s permanent return closes a significant chapter that began with his departure in January 2024 and is expected to shape domestic political dynamics in the months ahead.
