FREETOWN, Sierra Leone — Sierra Leone has officially dropped treason charges against former President Ernest Bai Koroma, government officials confirmed Tuesday, clearing the path for his return to the country. The decision resolves allegations surrounding his purported involvement in an attempted 2023 military coup.
According to an official government statement, authorities have lifted the charges and noted that Koroma is free to return to Sierra Leone at any time of his choosing. The former president had exiled himself to neighboring Nigeria in 2024 after initially facing treason charges related to the alleged coup attempt a year prior.
The dismissed charges stemmed from a violent series of coordinated events in November 2023, when armed attackers stormed multiple military installations, two prisons, and police stations. The assaults resulted in 21 fatalities and led to the arrest of 80 individuals. Authorities subsequently characterized the attacks as an attempted military coup.
While no official reason has been provided for the sudden dismissal of the charges on Tuesday, political insiders suggest the move is a strategic effort by the current administration to foster national unity and stabilize the nation’s political climate.
