Leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Thursday imposed sanctions against Guinea’s military government, reported Africa News.
The decision was taken at an emergency summit of the ECOWAS leaders in Accra which was called to respond to last week’s coup in Guinea. The regional heads of state freeze the financial assets and impose travel bans on Guinea’s military leaders and their relatives, demanding the release of President Alpha Conde and a short transition.
Addressing the media after the summit, ECOWAS Commission President Jean-Claude Kassi Brou said the sanctions were to compel the military leaders to return their country to constitutional order without delay.
“We are sending a strong signal to all those who are tempted to have this type of idea that there will be a very high price to pay,” Brou said.
He called on the military junta to hold elections as soon as possible return the country to constitutional order, and immediately release deposed President Conde from detention.
“In six months elections should be held,” said Brou.
ECOWAS Chairman Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is also expected to visit Guinea soon to have discussions with the military leaders.
Notably, the West African regional bloc had suspended the country’s membership immediately after the coup. It announced the closure of Guinea’s borders and declared its constitution invalid.
The coup leaders have held several meetings with various public figures, groups, and business leaders this week to chalk out a framework for the transition.
The ECOWAS also sanctioned Guinea’s neighbor, Mali, to create pressure on the military junta to cede power within 18 months and install a civilian to lead the transitional government. In May, the transition dealt a further setback after Assimi Goita, the colonel who led the initial coup, ordered the arrest of the interim president and then took over the role himself.
