By Josephine Sesay
President Julius Maada Bio has welcomed former President Ernest Bai Koroma back to Sierra Leone, calling for renewed national unity, peace and a collective commitment to building a stronger and more prosperous country.
President Bio made the statement on Monday, September 7, 2026, when he received the former president at State House in Freetown.
Welcoming Koroma back home, President Bio urged Sierra Leoneans to put aside divisions and work together in the interest of national development.
“Let us unite in purpose, reinforce our peace, and commit to building a stronger, more prosperous, and hopeful Sierra Leone,” President Bio said.
Koroma returned to Sierra Leone on Sunday, September 6, after spending more than two years in Nigeria.
He was accompanied by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and Nigerian Foreign Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu.
His return follows the discontinuation of criminal proceedings against him in July 2026.
Koroma had left Sierra Leone in 2024 after facing treason and other charges in connection with the November 2023 military uprising. The former president denied the allegations.
Koroma served as Sierra Leone’s president from 2007 to 2018 before handing over power to President Bio following the 2018 presidential election.
Speaking after his arrival, Koroma said he was happy to be back in his homeland and expressed his willingness to contribute to efforts aimed at strengthening national unity and reconciliation.
In his first public address since returning, the former president said he was prepared to do “whatever it takes” to help bring Sierra Leoneans together.
He said his efforts would be undertaken openly and with an open heart, while encouraging citizens not to remain trapped by past disagreements or statements.
Koroma also spoke about his personal spiritual reflection during his time away from the country, saying the experience had left his “mind open and free.”
“Everybody is welcome,” Koroma said, urging Sierra Leoneans to work together, avoid looking back and focus on moving the country forward.
His call for reconciliation comes at a significant time for Sierra Leone, as the country continues efforts to strengthen political stability, democratic institutions and national cohesion following a period of heightened political tensions.
The meeting between President Bio and the former president therefore carries considerable political and national significance, particularly given the political differences that have characterised the country’s recent history.
Both leaders used the occasion to emphasise the importance of peace, reconciliation and a shared national purpose.
President Bio’s welcome and Koroma’s message of reconciliation could signal a new chapter in Sierra Leone’s political engagement, with renewed emphasis on dialogue and cooperation across political and social divides.
As the country looks ahead, the two leaders’ calls for unity place the focus on the broader national interest and the need for Sierra Leoneans to work collectively towards a peaceful, stable and prosperous future.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday, 9th September 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
