Sierra Leone drops treason charge against ex-president over attempted coup

Sierra Leone drops treason charge against ex-president over attempted coup roma was been living in exile in Nigeria since January 2024 Sierra Leone's government has dropped its charges, including treason, against ex-President Ernest Bai Koroma, who was arrested in connection with an attempted coup nearly three years ago.The charges had been dropped on health grounds, Information Minister Chernor Bah told the BBC.The 72-year-old former president has always denied involvement in the November 2023 attempted coup when gunmen broke into a military armoury and several prisons, freeing almost 2,000 inmates.Responding to his case being dropped, Koroma noted his "enduring conviction that peace, justice and reconciliation must always triumph over adversity". In his statement on Tuesday, Koroma also expressed gratitude towards Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and the West African regional bloc Ecowas for their support.After Koroma was charged and placed under house arrest, Ecowas brokered a deal with the government of Sierra Leone, allowing the former president to go into exile in Nigeria and seek medical attention there.The attorney general had then filed to discontinue the case against Koroma and drop the charges, Bah said."The former president is therefore free to return to Sierra Leone at a time of his choosing and to go about his normal business," he added.Koroma led Sierra Leone for 11 years until 2018, when current President Bio was elected.Eleven civilians and 24 soldiers were found guilty of involvement in the coup attempt and received long prison terms in 2024.Around 20 people were killed in the uprising, which came five months after a disputed election which saw President Bio narrowly re-elected for a second term.The results were rejected by Koroma's All People's Congress. International observers also criticised the elections, highlighting a lack of transparency in the count.More BBC stories from Sierra Leone:What may have sparked Sierra Leone's coup attemptPublished28 November 2023The African fishermen who blame Chinese trawlers for their woesPublished6 JulySierra Leone's iconic cotton tree felled by stormPublished25 May 2023Go to BBCAfrica.com, external for more news from the African continent.Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, external, on Facebook at BBC Africa, external or on Instagram at bbcafrica, externalRelated topicsAfricaSierra LeoneBBC Africa podcastsFocus on AfricaThis Is Africa