Ernest Bai Koroma Gets Rousing Welcome In Makeni

Former President of Sierra Leone, Dr Ernest Bai Koroma, has returned to Makeni, his long-standing political stronghold, where hundreds of supporters, sympathisers and well-wishers gathered to receive him in a strong display of political loyalty and public affection.

Koroma’s arrival in Makeni marks a significant moment in his post-presidential political journey and comes after a prolonged period away from the country following the political and legal developments surrounding the 26 November 2023 attempted coup in Freetown.

The former President’s return has attracted considerable political attention, particularly because Makeni and the wider Northern Region have historically been regarded as important centres of support for the All People’s Congress (APC), the party Koroma once led and remains a senior figure within.

For many of those who gathered to welcome him, his arrival was more than a routine homecoming. It represented the return of a former Head of State who had spent years at the centre of Sierra Leone’s political affairs and whose political influence continues to generate considerable interest within the APC and beyond.

Koroma had been away from Sierra Leone for an extended period after being granted permission to travel to Nigeria for medical treatment while facing criminal proceedings arising from the November 2023 violence.

The events of 26 November 2023 remain among the most serious security incidents in Sierra Leone’s recent history. Armed men attacked military facilities and a major correctional facility in Freetown, leading to deaths, injuries and the release of more than 2,000 prisoners. The Government subsequently described the incident as an attempted coup against the state.

In January 2024, Koroma was charged with treason, misprision of treason and other related offences in connection with the alleged attempted coup. The former President consistently denied involvement in the events and maintained his innocence.

His case subsequently became a major political and legal issue, attracting national and international attention as questions persisted over the circumstances surrounding the November attacks and the Government’s decision to prosecute individuals linked to the alleged plot.

Koroma was later permitted to travel to Nigeria for medical treatment under conditions attached to his bail. His continued stay outside Sierra Leone became a subject of political discussion, particularly among supporters of the former President and the APC.

A major development came in July 2026 when the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Alpha Sesay, discontinued the criminal proceedings against Koroma by exercising the power of nolle prosequi under the Criminal Procedure Act 2024.

The decision effectively brought the criminal proceedings against the former President to an end in their existing form and removed the restrictions associated with his medical bail, clearing the way for him to return to Sierra Leone.

Koroma subsequently returned to the country, with his arrival welcomed by supporters and political associates. His appearance in Makeni has now provided the clearest public demonstration of the continuing support he commands among sections of the population, particularly in the Northern Region.

The scenes in Makeni are also likely to renew debate over Koroma’s political relevance at a time when the APC continues to navigate questions of leadership, party unity, electoral strategy and its relationship with its former leaders.

Although Koroma is no longer the party’s political leader, his two-term presidency and long association with the APC have left him with a substantial political legacy. He served as President from 2007 to 2018, becoming one of the country’s most prominent political figures of the modern era.

His return therefore carries significance beyond his personal homecoming. It places a former President, former APC leader and influential political figure physically back within the country’s political environment after years of legal uncertainty and absence.

The enthusiastic reception in Makeni could also be interpreted as an indication that Koroma retains a considerable political base, despite the changes that have taken place within the APC since he left office.

At the same time, his return comes against the backdrop of a politically sensitive environment in Sierra Leone, where questions surrounding governance, opposition politics, national reconciliation and the 2023 post-election political tensions remain subjects of public debate.

Koroma’s supporters are likely to view his return as an opportunity to reconnect with communities and political networks that have remained loyal to him, while his critics may continue to demand clarity and accountability over the events that led to the November 2023 attempted coup and the subsequent prosecution.

The discontinuation of the case does not, by itself, amount to a judicial finding that the allegations were proven false or that Koroma was exonerated after a trial. Rather, the criminal proceedings were discontinued through the exercise of the Attorney-General’s prosecutorial power, leaving the political implications of the case likely to remain part of Sierra Leone’s national conversation.

For Makeni, however, the immediate focus has been on welcoming one of the city’s most influential political sons back home.

With large crowds turning out to receive him, Koroma’s return has demonstrated that, despite years away from the country and the political controversies surrounding his name, his presence continues to generate strong emotions and significant political interest.

His homecoming may therefore mark the beginning of a new chapter in his relationship with the APC, his supporters and Sierra Leone’s wider political landscape.