ECOWAS President Facilitates Temporal Relocation of Former President Ernest Bai Koroma

Freetown, January 11, 2024 – The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, has reportedly arrived in Freetown to oversee the temporary relocation of former President Ernest Bai Koroma to Nigeria. The visit comes in response to Sierra Leone's Foreign Minister, Timothy Kabba, confirming the receipt of a letter from the ECOWAS Commission President detailing arrangements for the relocation.

Sierra Leonean government officials, however, expressed reservations about the unilateral nature of the proposal. Minister Kabba emphasized that the government did not fully endorse the content of the letter. The move follows former President Koroma facing treason charges, and the ECOWAS intervention aims to manage the situation.

Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, a Gambian diplomat and development professional, was appointed as the President of the ECOWAS Commission during the Sixty-First Ordinary Session of the Authority in Accra, Ghana, on July 03, 2022, for a four-year term.

Public Reaction and Concerns:

Sierra Leoneans have expressed diverse opinions on the ECOWAS intervention, with some questioning the feasibility of the orders and instructions provided by the regional body. Some citizens feel that ECOWAS needs a complete overhaul of leadership, citing perceived weaknesses in previous directives concerning other member countries.

Concerns have also been raised about the potential implications of relocating Ernest Bai Koroma amid ongoing legal proceedings related to treason charges. Some citizens are urging President Bio to handle the situation carefully, emphasizing the need for justice and transparency in the handling of the case.

In a recent press briefing, Information Minister P. Rogers highlighted the importance of President Bio's approach in dealing with ECOWAS, emphasizing that the regional body plays a crucial role in the development of Sierra Leone.

In the midst of varied opinions, Sierra Leoneans are closely monitoring the situation, expressing hope for a peaceful resolution to the political tensions between the government and opposition figures.