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The return of former Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma to his home country marks the successful conclusion of a regional diplomatic and confidence-building process facilitated by Nigeria and ECOWAS, the Nigerian government said on Monday.
Koroma had left for Nigeria in 2024, days after being charged with treason and other offences over a deadly 2023 army uprising.
The former president, who led Sierra Leone from 2007 to 2018, arrived at the international airport in the capital, Freetown, accompanied by Nigerian ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan and Nigerian Foreign Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu.
In a statement, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu said the safe and dignified return of Koroma after two and a half years of exile in Nigeria was a historic moment.
“It was an emotional journey yesterday, 6th Sept. 2026, and also a historic moment,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu said.
President Bola Tinubu noted that “this return marked the successful conclusion of a regional, diplomatic and confidence-building process,” she added.
The minister said the process had helped create conditions for greater understanding between Sierra Leone’s current President Julius Maada Bio and the former president.
“Former President Koroma’s conduct throughout this period of relocation to Nigeria reflected restraint, statesmanship, and commitment to a peaceful outcome,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu said.
Nigeria thanked ECOWAS and other stakeholders who contributed to resolving the issues that had necessitated Koroma’s relocation.
The government also expressed profound appreciation to President Bio, former President Koroma and the people of Sierra Leone for “their cooperation and commitment to peace.”
“Nigeria remains committed to regional harmony, constitutional order and democratic stability, and is confident that former President Koroma’s return will further strengthen national reconciliation and peace in Sierra Leone,” the statement said.
