By Ayomide Otitoju
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has warned that it will impose targeted sanctions on individuals or groups obstructing Guinea-Bissau’s return to civilian rule following last month’s military coup.
The warning was issued on Sunday at the end of ECOWAS’ bi-annual summit of heads of state and government, held in Abuja, Nigeria. The meeting was dominated by discussions on recent threats to democratic governance in the region, including the successful coup in Guinea-Bissau and a failed coup attempt in Benin.
Speaking to journalists after the summit, ECOWAS Commission President Omar Alieu Touray said the regional bloc would not tolerate actions capable of derailing the transition process in Guinea-Bissau.
He added that the ECOWAS peacekeeping force deployed in Guinea-Bissau since 2022 had been authorised to provide protection for political leaders and national institutions to help stabilise the country.
ECOWAS leaders strongly condemned both the Guinea-Bissau coup and the attempted overthrow of the government in Benin, noting that the incidents further threaten regional stability. In response to the failed putsch in Benin, Nigeria deployed fighter jets and troops alongside forces from Côte d’Ivoire, while additional troops from Ghana and Sierra Leone are expected to join the effort.
The bloc has in recent years grappled with a series of military takeovers in Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali and Niger between 2020 and 2023, all of which remain under military rule.
Although Sunday’s summit had been scheduled before the latest coup attempts, developments in Guinea-Bissau and Benin featured prominently on the agenda, alongside preparations for Guinea’s presidential election slated for December 28.
Despite concerns surrounding the Guinean transition—particularly the decision of junta leader Mamady Doumbouya to contest the election and the exclusion of opposition figure Cellou Dalein Diallo—Touray described the polls as “significant progress” in the country’s transition. He expressed hope that the election would be credible, transparent and fair.
Security challenges in the Sahel region also featured prominently in discussions, with leaders expressing concern over the continued spread of insurgency in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. The three junta-led countries have since withdrawn from ECOWAS and formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
ECOWAS Chair and President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio, warned that instability in the Sahel posed a shared threat to the entire region, stressing that borders could not shield countries from the spillover of violence.
Presidents of Guinea and Guinea-Bissau, whose countries were suspended from ECOWAS following military takeovers, did not attend the summit. Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, was also absent and was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Beyond coups, ECOWAS leaders also acknowledged concerns over democratic backsliding in some civilian-led countries, citing recent elections in Côte d’Ivoire in which opposition candidates were barred.
