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The Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) Publicity Secretary, Moses Mambu, says the return of former President Ernest Bai Koroma could unsettle some grassroots supporters because of lingering concerns surrounding the November 2023 attempted coup.
Speaking to SKB, Mambu said the SLPP is engaging its grassroots supporters to explain the circumstances surrounding Koroma’s return and address concerns arising from the events of November 26, 2023.
He said some supporters could still be traumatised by memories of the incident, which authorities described as an attempted coup against the SLPP-led government. Armed attackers targeted military and security installations as well as prisons during the unrest.
According to Mambu, the history surrounding the 2023 incident and the circumstances that led to Koroma’s return are among the reasons the party is prioritising direct engagement with its grassroots structures.
Former President Koroma returned to Sierra Leone on September 6, 2026, after spending more than two years in Nigeria. His return followed the government’s decision to discontinue treason and other charges brought against him in connection with the November 2023 uprising.
Koroma’s return has subsequently been presented by the government and regional stakeholders as an opportunity to advance national reconciliation and cohesion. ECOWAS welcomed the development, while President Julius Maada Bio later received the former president in an engagement centred on national unity and reconciliation.
However, Mambu said the SLPP remains mindful of the concerns that the former president’s return could generate among sections of its grassroots supporters who experienced the political tensions surrounding the 2023 incident.
He said the party’s immediate focus is to ensure that its supporters are properly informed about Koroma’s return and understand the circumstances surrounding the government’s decision.
The comments come as Koroma’s return continues to generate political interest ahead of Sierra Leone’s 2028 presidential election, with national reconciliation and the political implications of the former president’s return remaining subjects of public discussion.
