By Omonu YG Nelson
Abuja, Nigeria: (Summit Post News) January 22, 2024: The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has expressed its deep gratitude to the Sierra Leonean government for allowing former President Ernest Bai Koroma to travel abroad for medical reasons.
In a statement released on Saturday, January 20, ECOWAS praised the “humanitarian gesture” as serving the “greater interest of Sierra Leone and the ECOWAS region.” The statement comes after a Sierra Leonean court authorised Koroma’s temporary travel on medical grounds earlier this week.
The former president faces charges of treason and other offenses related to his alleged involvement in a failed coup attempt in November 2023. The ruling stipulates that Koroma, 70, can stay in Nigeria for no more than three months and must return to Sierra Leone for a court hearing in March.
ECOWAS, a regional bloc of 15 West African nations, had previously intervened in the situation, with presidents from Senegal and Ghana facilitating a deal for Koroma’s temporary exile in Nigeria. This latest statement reinforces the regional body’s continued commitment to Sierra Leone’s stability and prosperity.
While the statement doesn’t explicitly mention the ongoing legal proceedings against Koroma, it emphasises ECOWAS’s “renewed commitment to supporting the government and the people of Sierra Leone in their efforts to foster peace and security as well as to deepen democracy and good governance.”
Koroma’s medical leave and the ECOWAS statement are likely to be closely watched in Sierra Leone, as political tensions remain high following the November coup attempt. The government’s decision to allow Koroma’s travel, albeit temporarily, suggests a willingness for dialogue and potentially de-escalation, while ECOWAS’s continued involvement underlines its interest in promoting a peaceful and democratic resolution to the situation.
It remains to be seen how the judicial process against Koroma will unfold upon his return, and whether ECOWAS will continue to play a role in facilitating dialogue and stability in Sierra Leone. The next few months will be crucial in determining the country’s political trajectory and the long-term implications of this latest development.
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