Post a comment 
The Parliament of Sierra Leone has officially tabled a resolution to commend the state’s recent decision to drop all criminal charges against former President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma.
The resolution, presented by the Clerk of Parliament on July 16, 2026, strongly endorses the Government’s commitment to “national cohesion and reconciliation” following the Attorney-General’s legal notice to discontinue the high-profile treason case.
Former President Koroma, who led the nation from 2007 to 2018, was charged in January 2024 with treason and misprision of treason following a violent, coordinated assault on military and correctional facilities on November 26, 2023. Koroma consistently maintained his innocence and had been residing in Nigeria on court-approved medical leave while the case remained pending. The state’s sudden discontinuance on Tuesday fully discharges the former leader, giving him total freedom to return to Sierra Leone.
The parliamentary resolution explicitly grounds its support in Sierra Leone’s long post-conflict tradition of democracy and sustainable peace, nodding to foundational milestones like the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the Abidjan Peace Accord, and the Lomé Peace Agreement.
While acknowledging that the tragic incidents of November 26, 2023, resulted in the loss of precious lives among the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF), the Sierra Leone Police, and regular citizens, the House stressed the constitutional necessity of treating the office of former heads of state with respect.
“The Office of Former Presidents deserves dignity and respect consistent with the traditions of the Republic, without prejudice to the supremacy of the Constitution, the independence of the Judiciary or the equal application of the law,” the resolution notes.
The document also praises the ongoing leadership of President Julius Maada Bio, highlighting his current dual role as the President of the Republic and the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in promoting stability and dialogue across the West African sub-region.
Following the official adoption of the resolution on July 16, the Clerk of Parliament is directed to transmit certified copies of the document directly to His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio and other relevant authorities for immediate consideration and administrative action.
With Parliament firmly backing the executive’s decision to drop the charges, political observers view this development as a significant step toward lowering the political temperature and healing long-standing partisan divisions across the country.
