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The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has welcomed significant progress made by stakeholders in Sierra Leone on the implementation of the Agreement for National Unity between the government and the opposition All Peoples Congress.
The resolution was contained in the final communiqué of the 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, held in Lungi on July 19.
The regional body praised the recent rapprochement between the government and the APC, noting that it has paved the way for a significant easing of socio-political tensions and the restoration of a serene political environment required for impending electoral reforms ahead of the 2028 general elections.
ECOWAS also welcomed what it described as a “statesmanlike gesture” by President Julius Maada Bio for the discontinuation of charges against former President Ernest Bai Koroma in the spirit of national reconciliation and unity.
The charges against Koroma were withdrawn by the Attorney General on constitutional and health grounds in May 2026, after he had been under investigation for his alleged involvement in the November 2023 attempted coup. The former president had been under house arrest before being granted permission to travel to Nigeria for medical treatment in January 2024.
ECOWAS encouraged the International Moral Guarantors to continue monitoring progress in the implementation of the agreement, in close collaboration with Sierra Leone’s Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion.
The Authority urged all political stakeholders to persist with the implementation of the Agreement for National Unity and the recommendations of the Tripartite Committee report. It further called on all parties to prioritise dialogue and inclusive political engagement in undertaking constitutional, legal, and electoral reforms.
The Tripartite Committee, established following the disputed June 2023 elections, issued 84 recommendations in June 2024 covering electoral, institutional, and legal reforms. Implementation of these recommendations has been a key focus of ongoing political dialogue.
ECOWAS also urged all parties to ensure inclusivity and transparency in the preparatory processes towards the next general elections scheduled for 2028.
The communiqué further directed the ECOWAS Commission to provide technical and logistical support to the Inter-Party Dialogue Committee in Sierra Leone to facilitate the resolution of political and constitutional issues before the 2028 elections.
