Former Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma has returned to Freetown after more than two years in Nigeria, following a regional diplomatic process in which Abuja played a central role in facilitating his safe and dignified return.
Koroma was accompanied to Sierra Leone by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, on the instruction of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, according to a statement issued on Sunday by Dr Magnus Eze, Special Assistant on Communication and New Media in the Office of the Foreign Affairs Minister.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu described the former president’s return as the successful conclusion of a regional diplomatic and confidence-building process involving Nigeria, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and other stakeholders.
Koroma relocated to Nigeria in January 2024 following ECOWAS engagements aimed at promoting peace, stability and political understanding in Sierra Leone.
The minister said the process helped create conditions for greater understanding between Koroma and Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio, while sustained engagements during his stay in Nigeria contributed to addressing the issues that had led to his relocation.
“His conduct throughout this period reflected restraint, statesmanship, and commitment to a peaceful outcome,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu said.
She commended President Bio, Koroma and the people of Sierra Leone for their cooperation and commitment to peace, expressing appreciation for their role in bringing the diplomatic process to a positive conclusion.
The minister also reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to regional harmony, constitutional order and democratic stability, saying she was confident that Koroma’s return would further strengthen national reconciliation and peace in Sierra Leone.
Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo also joined Odumegwu-Ojukwu in escorting Koroma back to Freetown.
Koroma’s return marks the end of his more than two-year temporary relocation to Nigeria and underscores Abuja’s continuing involvement in diplomatic efforts to promote political stability and peaceful resolution of tensions within the West African region.
