Ecowas Backs Exile Over Justice for Fallen Leaders

Sierra Leone dropped treason charges against former President Ernest Bai Koroma on July 15. Ecowas orchestrated his exile to Nigeria and arranged the dismissal—a pattern reflecting the bloc's calculus: managed departures preserve stability better than trials. With coups destabilizing Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Niger, the regional body prioritizes negotiated exits over judicial accountability.