Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has warned that it will impose targeted sanctions on individuals or groups blocking Guinea-Bissau’s return to civilian rule after last month’s military takeover.
Gatekeepers News reports that the regional bloc issued the warning on Sunday at the end of its bi-annual summit held in Abuja, Nigeria, where leaders reviewed the growing wave of political instability across West Africa.
The meeting focused heavily on recent coup attempts, including the successful takeover in Guinea-Bissau and a failed plot in Benin.
ECOWAS Commission President, Omar Alieu Touray, said the organisation would act firmly against anyone undermining the transition process.
Touray also said the ECOWAS peacekeeping mission deployed in Guinea-Bissau since 2022 remains active and has expanded authority.
According to him, the force is “authorised… to protect all political leaders and national institutions” as the country navigates its political transition.
The bloc condemned both recent attempts to overthrow elected governments, warning that continued military interference threatens stability in the region. ECOWAS leaders expressed concern that repeated coups could reverse democratic gains and worsen insecurity.
In response to the attempted coup in Benin, Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire deployed military support to help secure the civilian government, while additional troops from Ghana and Sierra Leone are expected to reinforce regional efforts.
Discussions at the summit also covered elections in Guinea scheduled for December 28. Despite concerns over the exclusion of key opposition figures, Touray said ECOWAS viewed the polls as “significant progress” in the country’s transition. When asked about their credibility, he said, “We hope that the elections will be credible, transparent, and fair.”
Regional security was another major issue, particularly the worsening insurgency in the Sahel. Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, now under military rule, have withdrawn from ECOWAS and formed the Alliance of Sahel States, complicating joint security operations.
Sierra Leone President Julius Bio, who currently chairs ECOWAS, warned that violence in one country poses risks to its neighbour.
Leaders from Guinea and Guinea-Bissau, both suspended from ECOWAS after their coups, were absent from the summit. President Bola Tinubu was also not present and was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
ECOWAS leaders noted that beyond coups, democratic setbacks in civilian-led countries remain a concern, citing recent elections in parts of the region where opposition figures were barred from contesting.
