Former Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma has returned to Freetown after spending more than two years in Nigeria as part of a regional diplomatic effort aimed at easing political tensions and strengthening stability in the West African nation.
Koroma’s return was facilitated by the Nigerian government, with Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, accompanying him to Sierra Leone on the instructions of President Bola Tinubu. The minister said the development brings to an end a diplomatic process involving Nigeria, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and other stakeholders.
Koroma moved to Nigeria in January 2024 following engagements led by ECOWAS in the aftermath of heightened political tensions in Sierra Leone.
His relocation was intended to support efforts to promote dialogue, peace and political understanding while creating space for relations between him and President Julius Maada Bio to improve.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu said the diplomatic process ultimately helped establish conditions for greater understanding between the two political figures and enabled Koroma to spend the period in Nigeria before his eventual return. She commended the former president for his conduct during the period, saying he demonstrated restraint and statesmanship while pursuing a peaceful resolution.
“His conduct throughout this period reflected restraint, statesmanship, and commitment to a peaceful outcome,” the minister said, as Nigeria hailed the former president’s return as an outcome of sustained regional diplomacy and confidence-building efforts.
