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West African leaders vowed Sunday to impose targeted penalties on anyone blocking Guinea-Bissau's transition back to civilian rule, as the regional bloc grappled with a fresh wave of military interventions that has destabilized multiple member states.
The Economic Community of West African States announced the sanctions threat during a summit in Nigeria's capital, where presidents confronted two recent attempts to overthrow civilian governments—a successful military takeover in Guinea-Bissau last month and a failed coup in Benin just a week ago.
"The authorities shall impose targeted sanctions on individuals or groups of persons that obstruct the transition process," ECOWAS Commission President Omar Alieu Touray said at a press conference following the meeting in Abuja.
The twin disruptions have compounded challenges for the 15-member bloc, which has seen military juntas seize power in four countries since 2020. Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali and Niger all remain under military control, with their coup leaders showing little urgency to restore democratic governance.
The bi-annual summit, held in a conference center on the heavily guarded presidential compound at Aso Rock, had been scheduled before the recent upheavals but quickly refocused on the crisis. Leaders discussed an ECOWAS mission that recently visited Guinea-Bissau and reviewed the situation in Benin, according to the meeting agenda.
"The events of the last few weeks have shown in concrete terms what regional solidarity means," Touray said during opening ceremonies.
Guinea-Bissau and Guinea were not represented at the summit, as both countries remain suspended from ECOWAS following their military takeovers. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu did not attend and sent Vice President Kashim Shettima in his place.
Security in the Sahel region ranked high on the agenda as jihadist groups continue waging insurgencies across Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. The three junta-led nations have withdrawn from ECOWAS and formed their own Alliance of Sahel States, creating a parallel power structure in west Africa.
Last week, Touray called for negotiations with the breakaway alliance over shared security threats as violence spreads southward.
"No border can insulate us from violence," said Sierra Leone President Julius Bio, who holds ECOWAS's rotating chairmanship.
The summit also addressed trade liberalization measures and transition updates in Guinea, where military rulers have repeatedly delayed promised elections.
While military takeovers have dominated headlines, democratic erosion has also affected civilian governments across the region. Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara won a fourth term in October elections that barred his main rivals from competing.
Both Bio and Tinubu faced allegations of irregularities in their 2023 elections, underscoring broader governance challenges confronting west African democracies.
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