Nigeria has facilitated the safe return of former Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma to Freetown after more than two years of temporary relocation in Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu, accompanied Koroma to Sierra Leone on the instruction of President Bola Tinubu. Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo also joined the delegation.
Odumegwu Ojukwu said Koroma’s return marked the conclusion of a regional diplomatic and confidence building process involving the Economic Community of West African States, the Nigerian government and other stakeholders.
Koroma relocated to Nigeria in January 2024 after Sierra Leonean authorities charged him with treason and other offences linked to a November 2023 armed uprising. He had initially been granted permission to travel to Nigeria for medical treatment for three months but remained there for more than two years.
The former president denied involvement in the alleged coup attempt. The November 2023 violence involved attacks on military facilities, police stations and prisons, leaving at least 21 people dead and allowing hundreds of prisoners to escape, according to authorities.
Sierra Leone’s Justice Ministry dropped the charges against Koroma in July 2026, clearing the way for his return. The government did not publicly give a reason for withdrawing the charges.
The Nigerian Foreign Affairs Ministry said Koroma’s relocation to Nigeria followed ECOWAS engagements aimed at promoting peace, stability and political understanding in Sierra Leone. According to the ministry, sustained consultations during his stay helped create conditions for improved understanding between Koroma and President Julius Maada Bio.
Odumegwu Ojukwu said Koroma demonstrated restraint and commitment to a peaceful resolution throughout the period. She also commended President Bio, Koroma and the people of Sierra Leone for their cooperation in the process.
Koroma, who governed Sierra Leone from 2007 to 2018, was welcomed back in Freetown by government officials and members of his All People’s Congress party. He told journalists at the airport that he was happy to be home.
His return comes as Sierra Leone continues efforts to ease political tensions and strengthen national reconciliation following the 2023 unrest. It also comes ahead of the country’s next presidential election scheduled for 2028.
Nigeria said it remained committed to supporting constitutional order, democratic stability and peaceful political processes in West Africa. The Foreign Affairs Ministry expressed confidence that Koroma’s return would contribute to reconciliation and peace in Sierra Leone.
The development highlights the role of regional diplomacy in resolving politically sensitive disputes in West Africa, particularly where tensions involving former political leaders risk affecting broader national stability. Koroma’s return ends more than two years of temporary relocation and provides an opportunity for Sierra Leone to pursue the next phase of its political process through domestic dialogue and reconciliation.
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