West African bloc lifts all sanctions on post-coup nation

The move restores Guinea’s regional status following peaceful elections and the inauguration of President Mamady Doumbouya

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) announced on Wednesday that it has lifted all sanctions against Guinea.

The bloc also said it will fully reintegrate the West African country into all ECOWAS decision-making organs and regional integration activities after Guinea’s transition period concluded.

“Lift, with immediate effect, all residual sanctions against the Republic of Guinea and individuals involved in the transition process,” a communique stated.

ECOWAS credited the peaceful holding of the December 28 presidential election and the inauguration of President Mamady Doumbouya on January 17 for creating the conditions to end sanctions.

Guinea experienced a military coup in September 2021 which led to the overthrow of President Alpha Conde amid allegations of corruption and mismanagement. Conde, who had become the country’s first democratically elected civilian leader in 2010, ruled for just over a decade. He secured a controversial third term in 2020 after pushing through constitutional changes that allowed him to extend his rule, sparking widespread unrest.

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General Mamady Doumbouya was installed as interim leader after the coup, marking the country’s third military takeover since gaining independence from France in 1958. 

Guinea was also suspended from the African Union (AU) following the coup, but was reinstated last week. 

Doumbouya won the December election with 86.72% of the vote, defeating eight challengers and paving the way for the lifting of sanctions and Guinea’s reintegration into regional bodies.

READ MORE: African Union reinstates post-coup country

ECOWAS imposed sanctions on Guinea in 2021. Measures included suspension from all the bloc’s institutions, travel bans on members of the military government and their families, and the freezing of their financial assets in member states.