Former President Ernest Bai Koroma is expected to attend the ECOWAS Summit in Freetown this weekend, just days after Parliament unanimously endorsed the decision to discontinue treason charges against him.

The regional gathering, scheduled for Sunday 19 July in the Sierra Leonean capital, will bring together West African heads of state and government. Ministers from across the region have been meeting since Thursday to prepare for the summit, reviewing political, security and economic issues.

Koroma’s presence at the summit is being seen as a symbolic gesture of national reconciliation, representing a new chapter in Sierra Leone’s commitment to healing and regional cooperation. According to sources, the decision to drop the charges was part of a broader effort at “goodwill, confidence building, and healing” within the nation.

The charges against Koroma stemmed from the failed coup attempt of 26 November 2023, when armed attackers stormed military barracks and prisons in Freetown. Koroma was charged with treason in January 2024 but travelled to Nigeria later that month for medical treatment.

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In addition to discontinuing charges, Parliament has passed legislation to safeguard the welfare of former Presidents and Vice Presidents. The resolution states: “This Honourable House promulgates a Government or Private Member’s Bill into law to safeguard the welfare of Former Presidents and Vice Presidents.“

Parliament also urged the government to support the families of servicemen and women who were impaired or lost their lives during the 26 November 2023 incident. The resolution will be drafted by the Clerk of Parliament and served on His Excellency the President.