Dr. Sylvia Olayinka Blyden, a former Special Executive Assistant and Minister of Social Welfare under the All People’s Congress (APC) government, has alleged that former President Ernest Bai Koroma was directly involved in and financed the November 2025 attempted coup in Sierra Leone.

Speaking during an interview on Truth Media, Dr. Blyden said she was “100 percent confident” that her former boss played a role in the failed plot, adding that both she and Koroma were aware of the alleged involvement.

Dr. Blyden claimed that Koroma acted out of self-preservation, prioritizing his personal security over national interest. She further stated that she had previously offered him advice, which he did not heed, stressing that she would not associate herself with any action capable of destabilizing the country.

Commenting on President Julius Maada Bio’s decision to allow Koroma to leave the country on medical grounds following mediation by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Dr. Blyden described the move as a strategic effort to preserve peace and stability. However, she noted that if she had been in charge, she would have pursued prosecution before considering any form of clemency.

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Her comments are expected to intensify national debate on accountability, justice, and reconciliation in the aftermath of the failed coup attempt, underscoring the ongoing tension between political considerations and legal responsibility in Sierra Leone.