The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has warned that it will impose targeted sanctions on individuals or groups working to undermine Guinea-Bissau’s transition back to civilian governance following last month’s military coup.

The warning was issued on Sunday in Abuja by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Alieu Touray, at the close of the bloc’s bi-annual summit of heads of state and government.

“The authorities shall impose targeted sanctions on individuals or groups of persons that obstruct the transition process,” Touray said while briefing journalists after the meeting.

Discussions at the summit were largely shaped by recent coup-related developments in the region, including the military takeover in Guinea-Bissau and a failed coup attempt in the Republic of Benin. The incidents have further heightened ECOWAS’ concerns as it continues to grapple with the fallout from coups between 2020 and 2023 in Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali and Niger countries that remain under military rule.

Speaking earlier at the opening of the summit, Touray stressed that the latest developments underscored the need for stronger regional cooperation and solidarity to protect democratic governance across West Africa.

Although the summit had been scheduled before the recent upheavals, the political situations in Guinea-Bissau and Benin featured prominently on the agenda. Leaders reviewed the report of a recent ECOWAS mission to Guinea-Bissau, assessed political developments in Benin, discussed progress on trade liberalisation, and received updates on Guinea’s ongoing transition process.

Security challenges in the Sahel also dominated deliberations, with jihadist insurgencies continuing to spread across Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. The three countries, now ruled by military juntas, have withdrawn from ECOWAS and formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

Touray emphasised the importance of continued engagement with the AES to address shared security threats, noting the cross-border nature of the crisis. ECOWAS’ rotating chairman and President of Sierra Leone, Julius Bio, echoed this position, warning that “no border can insulate us from violence.”

Leaders of Guinea and Guinea-Bissau, both suspended from ECOWAS following military takeovers, were absent from the summit. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu was also not in attendance and was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima.

Beyond the issue of coups, the summit reflected broader concerns about democratic backsliding in the region. Recent elections in several member states, including Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone and Nigeria, were referenced amid allegations of irregularities and restrictions on opposition participation.