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The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Alpha Sesay, has made it clear that the legal case against former President Ernest Bai Koroma is not part of the National Unity Agreement.
The agreement was signed between the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and the All People’s Congress (APC) after the 2023 general elections. It came as a response to the political tensions that followed the vote, which many believed needed careful handling to avoid further unrest. As part of the agreement, both parties agreed on several steps to restore calm and move the country forward.
One of the key parts of the National Unity Agreement was the release of more than 30 political prisoners who were facing charges related to political actions. These included cases that happened before and after the elections. In addition to the releases, the government also dropped the charges in these cases. This was seen as a way to encourage reconciliation and to ease political divisions across the country.
However, the Attorney General has clarified that the case involving the former president falls outside the scope of the National Unity Agreement. Koroma is facing charges connected to the attempted coup that took place in November 2023. His legal situation is being treated separately from the political cases that were included in the agreement. The decision to keep his case apart was made based on the nature of the accusations.
The former president was brought to court after his name came up during investigations into the failed November 26th coup. After his court appearance, his legal team asked for medical leave, stating that he needed to travel abroad for treatment. The court accepted the request and allowed him to leave the country. Since then, his medical leave has been extended by the court.
Even though other people accused of politically related crimes have had their charges dropped under the National Unity Agreement, the Attorney General maintained that this process does not apply to the former president. The legal system is continuing to deal with his case according to standard legal procedures. His case remains active, and no final decision has been made yet.
As part of the unity efforts, the government has also dropped charges against several individuals linked to past events in Makeni and other parts of the country. These steps were taken in line with the peace process agreed upon by the SLPP and APC. The releases were made with the goal of promoting national healing and rebuilding trust.
The former president, however, remains a subject of an ongoing investigation. His case is still before the court, and the outcome will depend on how the process continues. Authorities have said that there will be no interference with the judicial system and that the law will take its course.
The legal process surrounding the attempted coup remains one of the most watched cases in recent times. While the National Unity Agreement has played a role in helping to ease tensions, the case involving the former president is expected to follow its own legal path, independent of the political agreements made earlier this year.
