The Economic Community of West African Statte, ECOWAS, has threatened targeted sanctions on anyone truncating the return of Guinea-Bissau to civilian rule

On the bloc’s efforts to address the political crisis in Guinea-Bissau, Mr Touray said, “the authorities shall impose targeted sanctions on individuals or groups of persons that obstruct the transition process.”

A high-level delegation from ECOWAS has ended its mediation mission to Guinea-Bissau without a breakthrough. But representatives of the West African regional bloc said talks with coup leaders would continue later this month.

The mission, led by its chairman and the President of Sierra Leone Julius Maada Bio, arrived as the military government — which seized power last Wednesday — banned all demonstrations, strikes and activities regarded as threat to peace and stability