News summary produced by Claude AI
Sierra Leone’s government announced the discontinuation of legal proceedings against former President Ernest Bai Koroma, who had faced treason charges related to an attempted coup. Information Minister Chernor Bah indicated that health considerations formed the basis for the decision to drop the charges against the 72-year-old former leader.
Koroma had been arrested following the November 2023 attempted coup, during which gunmen broke into a military facility and several correctional institutions, resulting in the release of approximately 2,000 detainees. The former president maintained his innocence throughout the legal process, consistently denying any involvement in the incident. Following his initial detention and house arrest, regional mediation efforts by the West African bloc Ecowas facilitated an agreement allowing Koroma to relocate to Nigeria for medical treatment while remaining subject to the legal case.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Koroma expressed appreciation to several parties, including President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, and Ecowas. He emphasized his belief in the importance of peace, justice, and reconciliation in addressing conflicts and adversity.
According to Bah, the attorney general filed to discontinue proceedings and formally withdraw all charges against Koroma. The minister confirmed that the former president is now unrestricted in his ability to return to Sierra Leone and resume his ordinary activities as he sees fit.
Koroma served as president for 11 years before Bio’s election in 2018. The November 2023 uprising resulted in approximately 20 deaths and occurred five months after a contested election. A separate proceeding concluded in 2024 with 11 civilians and 24 military personnel receiving lengthy prison sentences for their roles in the coup attempt.