Sierra Leone’s former President Ernest Bai Koroma faces charges, including treason, for his alleged involvement in a recent unsuccessful military attempt to overthrow the country’s government. The court’s decision in the capital, Freetown, has intensified tensions in a nation striving to recover from its civil war and recent election disputes.
Koroma’s indictment arrives after the contentious re-election of President Julius Maada Bio in June 2023, an outcome contested by the primary opposition candidate and questioned by international entities such as the United States and the European Union.
The West African nation, recovering from a devastating civil war, has been fraught with heightened tension. The attempted coup in November, which involved an attack on military facilities and the release of over 2,200 prisoners, resulted in the deaths of more than 20 individuals.
The government attributed the failed coup primarily to Koroma’s bodyguards and summoned the former president for questioning in December. Koroma swiftly condemned the attacks in an initial statement following the incident.
Joseph Kamara, Koroma’s lawyer, denounced the charges, calling them a political vendetta and expressing concern about setting a perilous precedent by prosecuting a democratically elected former head of state.
Despite the charges, a high court granted bail to Koroma, confining him to his residence in Freetown until the case’s adjournment on January 17. Treason, if proven guilty under Sierra Leone’s penal code, carries a sentence of lifelong imprisonment.
In a letter from ECOWAS, Nigeria extended an offer to temporarily host Koroma, an offer reportedly accepted by the ex-president. However, Sierra Leone’s foreign minister stated the government’s firm opposition to the proposal to relocate Koroma.
Alongside Koroma, twelve others, including former police and correctional officers and a member of Koroma’s security detail, have also been charged with treason in connection with the attempted coup. This development unfolds amidst ongoing political tension and legal ramifications within Sierra Leone’s political landscape.
