In 2018, Sierra Leone welcomed President Julius Maada Bio. Immediately, a disruptive campaign threatened the nation’s stability.  For five years, ECOWAS overlooked the rising political heat in Sierra Leone, missing critical chances to mediate.  Despite fatal clashes in 2022, ECOWAS didn’t persuade former President Koroma to seek exile, averting further unrest.  After the 2023 coup attempt, ECOWAS delayed action, sending a delegation only a month later for preliminary assessments.

Charges of Treason Ignite Action

Once Sierra Leone charged ex-President Koroma with treason, ECOWAS’s Dr. Touray visited, influencing Koroma’s temporary exit.  As Koroma’s court date looms, ECOWAS, under Dr. Touray, must face its part in this judicial cliffhanger.   If Sierra Leone’s government knew of plans to let ex-President Koroma evade justice, it and ECOWAS are complicit.   Such actions would suggest that ECOWAS and the government tolerate undemocratic power grabs.