By: Saidu Jalloh
Former President Ernest Bai Koroma has arrived at the Freetown International Airport in Lungi, where he was welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Mohamed Rahman Swarray and senior members of his All People’s Congress (APC) party.
Koroma’s arrival follows an earlier announcement by Sierra Leone’s Vice President, Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, that the former president would return to the country this weekend.
Speaking during a live Facebook broadcast from Makeni, Vice President Jalloh said Koroma was expected to arrive in Freetown before travelling to his hometown of Makeni.
The announcement was made during the Vice President’s regional consultations on decentralisation and local governance in Makeni, bringing together local leaders, civil society representatives and residents.
The news was met with warm applause from participants, reflecting the anticipation surrounding the former president’s return.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, was expected to accompany Koroma on his return to Sierra Leone, according to sources who spoke to Liberty TV.
Vice President Jalloh had earlier indicated that Koroma would return to Freetown this weekend before proceeding to Makeni the following weekend.
Nigeria played a key diplomatic role in facilitating Koroma’s temporary relocation to Abuja following an intervention by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), under the leadership of Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Koroma’s return follows the decision by the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice earlier this year to discontinue criminal proceedings against him, removing a major legal obstacle to his return to Sierra Leone