𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐓𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐄 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐁𝐀𝐈 𝐊𝐎𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐀; 𝐀 𝐃𝐄𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐏𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐋 𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐘 [𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐃𝐄 𝟎𝟎𝟐]

AUTHOR: DR. S.S. MARRAH [D–GENERAL]
[Expert In Security, Strategy And Foreign Policy Analysis]
Dated: 21st July 2026

Abstract
For the better half of this decade, political variability and erraticism has beclouded and eclipsed our country’s survival. The trigger and escalating factors are entrenched in inter-political squabbles between the two major political parties [APC and SLPP]. The political divergence and discrepancy between these political parties has deepened mistrust, widened polarisation and broadened tribal and regional incongruity. Nevertheless, the Funeral Diplomacy that followed the event of Alhaji Minkailu Mansary’s funeral served as a conduit for bilateral talks and meetings between the leaders of both the APC and the SLPP. Moreover, President Julius Maada Bio’s decision to pardon erstwhile President Ernest Bai Koroma is a scintillating indication that peace, unity, tranquillity and social cohesion are at hand. These two actions of President Julius Maada Bio have shown that, he is not only the fountain of honour but the harbinger of peace and unity in Sierra Leone.
As Socrates affirms, President Julius Maada Bio – ‘sometimes you have to let go to see if there was anything worth holding onto.’
Following a cascade of political and diplomatic engagements with regards erstwhile President Ernest Bai Koroma’s situation; a ‘nolle prosequi’ was signed on the 14th July 2026 by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice which paved the way for the former President to attend the 69th Ordinary Session of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government at Lungi in the Republic of Sierra Leone [on the 19th July 2026]. The Attorney General and Minister of Justice executed the ‘nolle prosequi’ following due instruction from President Julius Maada Bio which in essence lawfully and formally discontinued all the court proceedings against former President Ernest Bai Koroma.
That said, I want to take this as an opportunity to thank and appreciate President Julius Maada Bio for taking such compassionate and empathetic decision. As the Chinese Philosopher Confucius postulates, that ‘a journey of a thousand mile begins with the first step’ – this action by His Excellency is truly a step in the right direction. Such prudent and judicious decision by President Julius Maada Bio at this critical point in time of our politicalnhistory chequered by vilification, disparagement and cynicism reminds us of Martin Luther King Jr’s assertion that, as a nation ‘we must learn to live together as brothers or perish as fools’.
The rationale for such action by His Excellency is to foster national cohesion, reconciliation and peace in an already polarised state. The President has demonstrated political maturity and moral magnanimity aimed at healing wounds and welding the nation as one.
Prior to the decision of President Julius Maada Bio instructing the Attorney General and Minister of Justice to execute the ‘nolle prosequi’, the President and his SLPP led
government and party played pivotal roles in fast tracking the facilitation of moving the mortal remains of our national party Chairman Alhaji Minkailu Mansary from Senegal to Sierra Leone. The SLPP Chairman Mr. Jimmy Batilo Songa and a host of other party stakeholders gave us their fullest support in granting our chairman his final respect. We are also grateful for that and thank you His Excellency and Chairman Jimmy Batilo Songa for demonstrating that politics is meant for fixing the socio-economic challenges of our nation and not perceiving each other as enemies. The political maturity demonstrated during that sad and melancholic period depicts that we can overcome our truculent and antagonistic differences if we truly want to. It is therefore advisable that, we take advantage of these two developments; the funeral diplomacy and the ‘nolle prosequi’ and blur the political
boundaries dividing us. As Nelson Mandela said, ‘once the torch has been lighted, it will continue to burn’. Let us work around this new epoch of peace, improve constructive politics and politicking – enhance trust and confidence building and entrench national cohesion.
As a former Security and Intelligence Adviser to both erstwhile President Ernest Bai Koroma and President Julius Maada Bio [albeit tor a brief stint], please permit me to proffer these key words of advice; to the SLPP supporters, please stop treating the APC supporters especially those in the south-east like enemies. It is our constitutional right and mandate [for now] to work for the government of Sierra Leone from an opposition angle. To the Security Sector especially the Police and the Military, we know our mandate, ethos and ethics – please respect and maintain those sacred principles and virtues and cease treating the APC like criminals because we aren’t. The aphorism ‘order from above’ is a bizarre and unabashed rhetoric which will easily land you in serious problem because it is operationally and legally lame. I will advise in the words of the Greek Philosopher Thales of Miletus that in the execution of your duties ‘avoid doing what you would blame others for doing’. The APC is the government in waiting – so please be reminded of your neutrality, professionalism and genuine service guided by your administered oath to protect the people of Sierra Leone.
That said, as a war Veteran and a Pacifist, I am optimistic and upbeat that together we can build a better and peaceful Sierra Leone. In the words of Henry Ford, ‘coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress and working together is success’ – therefore, let us build on this solid foundation and forge ahead for peace and development to prevail in Sierra Leone. His Excellency sir, we aren’t oblivious of the fact that unity can only be manifested by the binary; nevertheless, you have the sole responsibility and authority to keep Sierra Leone serene and tranquil. The great Philosopher Aristotle maintains and I conclude….. ‘is there anything worse for a state than to be split and disunited or anything better than cohesion and unity’? ‘Ponder my thoughts’ [Andrew Keili].