Freetown, Sierra Leone – The Government of Sierra Leone has officially discontinued all criminal proceedings against former President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, bringing an end to the high-profile treason case that has been before the courts since early 2024.
In a public notice issued on July 14, 2026, the Office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice announced that it had filed a notice to discontinue the proceedings in accordance with Section 45 of the Criminal Procedure Act, 2024. According to the statement, the decision was made by the Attorney General in the exercise of the powers conferred by the laws of Sierra Leone.
Former President Koroma had been facing charges of treason and misprision of treason in connection with the alleged failed military coup of November 2023. He was granted bail on medical grounds and subsequently traveled abroad to receive medical treatment. The Attorney General’s notice states that, following the filing to discontinue the case, the criminal proceedings are no longer before the court, and Koroma’s bail has been terminated with immediate effect.
The government further announced that the former president is now free to return to Sierra Leone upon completing his medical treatment or at any time of his choosing.
The decision marks a significant development in one of Sierra Leone’s most closely watched political and legal cases, which had drawn both domestic and international attention since the charges were first brought against the former Head of State.
The discontinuance of the case clears the way for Koroma’s return to the country without the pending criminal proceedings that had previously prevented him from doing so. The government has not provided further details on the reasons behind the decision beyond citing the Attorney General’s statutory authority under the Criminal Procedure Act.
