Keypoints:
- ECOWAS has warned of targeted sanctions against individuals obstructing Guinea-Bissau’s transition
- The threat follows a regional summit dominated by recent coup attempts
- Leaders also debated Sahel security and democratic backsliding in West Africa
THE Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has threatened to impose targeted sanctions on individuals or groups undermining Guinea-Bissau’s return to civilian rule, signalling a tougher stance after last month’s military coup in the country.
The warning was issued on Sunday at the close of a bi-annual ECOWAS summit in Abuja, Nigeria, where heads of state and senior officials gathered amid renewed concern over democratic instability in the region. The meeting, originally scheduled before the latest political upheavals, was dominated by discussions on a successful coup in Guinea-Bissau and a failed putsch attempt in neighbouring Benin, according to AFP.
Speaking to reporters after the summit, ECOWAS Commission President Omar Alieu Touray said the bloc would not hesitate to act against spoilers of the transition process. ‘The authorities shall impose targeted sanctions on individuals or groups of persons that obstruct the transition process,’ Touray said.
Peacekeeping force mandate reinforced
Touray also confirmed that the ECOWAS peacekeeping force deployed in Guinea-Bissau since 2022 has been granted a reinforced mandate. The force, he said, is ‘authorised… to provide protection to all political leaders and national institutions’, reflecting concerns over the safety of civilian authorities and the risk of further instability.
Guinea-Bissau, a small West African state with a long history of coups and attempted coups, has remained politically fragile for decades. The latest military takeover has heightened fears of renewed violence and institutional breakdown, both domestically and across the region.
Benin coup attempt raises alarm
The summit also strongly condemned the failed coup attempt in Benin, which took place roughly a week before the Abuja meeting. In response to the incident, Nigeria deployed fighter jets and troops to support Benin’s civilian government, alongside soldiers from Cote d’Ivoire. ECOWAS officials have said additional forces from Ghana and Sierra Leone are expected to join the deployment.
ECOWAS has struggled in recent years to contain a wave of military takeovers. Between 2020 and 2023, coups in Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali and Niger removed elected governments and led to prolonged standoffs with the regional bloc. All four countries remain under junta rule despite sanctions, mediation efforts and diplomatic pressure.
Elections and Sahel security on agenda
Although the Abuja summit was convened before the most recent coup attempts, they quickly moved to the top of the agenda. Leaders also discussed Guinea’s December 28 elections, to be held under the leadership of junta chief Mamady Doumbouya. Doumbouya is contesting the polls despite a prior pledge not to run, while exiled opposition leader and former prime minister Cellou Dalein Diallo is excluded.
Despite these controversies, Touray said ECOWAS view the vote as ‘significant progress’ in Guinea’s transition. Asked about the credibility of the elections, he told reporters: ‘We hope that the elections would be credible, transparent and fair.’
Security in the Sahel featured prominently in discussions. Jihadist insurgencies continue to intensify in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, where attacks have increasingly spilled southwards. The three junta-led states have withdrawn from ECOWAS and formed the Alliance of Sahel States, complicating regional cooperation.
‘No border can insulate us from violence’
Sierra Leone President Julius Bio, who currently holds ECOWAS’s rotating chairmanship, warned that insecurity in one part of the region threatens all. ‘No border can insulate us from violence,’ he said during the summit.
The heads of state of Guinea and Guinea-Bissau, both suspended from ECOWAS following military takeovers, were not present in Abuja. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu also did not attend and was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Beyond coups, leaders acknowledged wider democratic backsliding across West Africa, underscoring the growing challenge facing ECOWAS as it seeks to restore constitutional order and regional stability.
