ECOWAS Threatens Sanctions Against Guinea-Bissau Coup Leaders

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has resolved to impose targeted sanctions on individuals and groups abetting the unconstitutional change of government in Guinea-Bissau. The decision was made during the 68th Ordinary Session of ECOWAS in Abuja, Nigeria, where the commission president, Dr Omar Alieu Touray, warned that failure to comply with the demands would lead to sanctions.

ECOWAS has rejected the military leadership’s transition programme and has authorised the ECOWAS Military Mission in Guinea-Bissau to protect political leaders and national institutions. The bloc is calling for a speedy transition led by an inclusive government and the immediate release of all political detainees.

The decision comes weeks after the military ousted Guinea-Bissau’s leader, Umaro Embaló, on November 26, citing the need to restore national security and public order. The coup has been widely condemned, with rights groups alleging that it was engineered to derail the announcement of results and reset the political clock in favour of allies of the deposed president.

ECOWAS has described the coup as a “subversion of the will of the electorate,” citing the fact that the November 23 election was reported as being free, transparent, and peaceful by ECOWAS, the African Union, and the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries.

Dr Touray announced that President Julius Bio of Sierra Leone will lead a high-level mission to Bissau, and the Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff will engage the military authorities immediately.

ECOWAS has also condemned the December 7 attempted coup in Benin Republic, praising the rapid activation of regional deterrence. The bloc applauds the swift response by elements of the ECOWAS Standby Force in supporting the Republican Forces of Benin to halt the attempted coup.

The situation in Guinea-Bissau and Benin Republic highlights the ongoing challenges to democracy and stability in West Africa, and ECOWAS’ determination to uphold constitutional order and protect the rights of citizens.