ECOWAS has lifted all remaining sanctions on Guinea following its completed political transition after the 2021 coup, as announced on January 28, 2026.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) imposed sanctions after Colonel Mamady Doumbouya’s junta ousted President Alpha Conde in September 2021. These included suspending Guinea’s membership and restricting financial access. Partial relief came in February 2024 when transaction limits with ECOWAS institutions were lifted.
Guinea held a constitutional referendum in September 2025 and presidential elections on December 28, 2025, which international observers deemed peaceful and transparent. Doumbouya won 86.7% of votes, validated by the Supreme Court, and was inaugurated on January 17, 2026, before thousands and regional leaders.
ECOWAS Decision
At a Freetown summit chaired by Sierra Leone’s Julius Maada Bio, ECOWAS ended all residual sanctions immediately, reintegrating Guinea into decision-making bodies. The bloc congratulated Doumbouya and urged social cohesion, national unity, and inclusive prosperity amid concerns over civil liberties crackdowns and protest bans.
Guinea, rich in bauxite but economically challenged, now resumes full ECOWAS activities. The bloc will support post-transition reconstruction, emphasizing democracy and rule of law, vital for West African stability.
