Former President Ernest Bai Koroma got a warm welcome when he returned to his hometown of Makeni.
Crowds of supporters, residents and well-wishers turned out to greet him in the northern city. The atmosphere was lively and joyful, showing the strong connection he still has with people in the area.
This happened not long after he came back to Sierra Leone on 6 September 2026. He had spent more than two years in Nigeria. The government dropped the criminal case against him, and regional efforts helped make his return possible. He arrived in Freetown with former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and Nigeria’s Foreign Minister. Sierra Leone’s Foreign Minister and APC officials welcomed him. Koroma told journalists he was happy to be home.
Since coming back, he has publicly thanked President Julius Maada Bio for helping arrange his return. At a meeting at State House, Koroma said his love for Sierra Leone goes beyond politics. He offered to share his experience whenever the country needs it and promised to work for peace, unity and development.
Koroma was president from 2007 to 2018. His homecoming in Makeni feels personal for many in the north and also carries wider meaning for the country as people talk about reconciliation and moving forward together.
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