Economic Community of West African States
Supplementary Act A/SP.2/08/11 on Sanctions Against Member States that Fail to Honour their Obligations to ECOWAS
Act 8-2 of 2011
- Published in official journal 59 on 1 August 2011
- Commenced on 1 August 2011
- [This is the version of this document at 19 August 2011.]
Chapter 1
Obligations for which non-fulfilment is likely to engender sanctions against Member States
Article 1 – Definition of obligation of Member States
Article 2 – Categories of obligations of Member States
Chapter 2
Sanctions applicable in the event of non-fulfilment of obligations
Article 3 – Principle of Sanctions
Article 4 – Purpose of sanctions
Article 5 – Judicial sanctions
The Court of Justice may deliver judgements sanctioning Member States for failure to comply with their obligations under the Treaty, the Conventions and Protocols, Regulations, Decisions and Directives of ECOWAS.Article 6 – Political sanctions
Sanctions applicable against Member States that do not honour their obligations to the Community may include:Article 7 – Definition of the content of some sanctions
To facilitate consistent and equal application to all Member States, the envisaged sanctions shall be defined in the provisions of this Supplementary Act.Article 8 – Suspension from participation in ECOWAS activities
Article 9 – Travel ban on leaders, their families and associates
Article 10 – Recall by other Member States of their Ambassadors accredited to a country
When the Authority of Heads of State and Government decides on other Member States recalling their Ambassadors accredited to a country, all diplomatic relations with that country shall also be suspended.Article 11 – Embargo on arms entering a Member State
Article 12 – Ban on standing for Presidential office in Member States
The perpetrators of Coup d’Etat and their accomplices, governments seeking to remain in power and prevent any possibility of alternation by changing the constitution, as well as participants and beneficiaries of all other anti-constitutional changes shall not stand for presidential office in their respective Member State. ECOWAS and its Member States shall not recognise governments arising from power obtained through such means.Chapter 3
Modalities for implementing sanctions
Article 13 – Application of sanctions
The sanctions defined in Articles 5 to 11 of this Supplementary Act shall be enforced in gradual or cumulative manner.Article 14 – Power of initiative
The procedure for the application of sanctions against Member States that fail to honour their obligations to the Community shall be implemented:Article 15 – Allegations of non-compliance or non fulfilment of obligations by Member States
Article 16 – Indictment against a Member State that fails to honour its obligations to the Community
Article 17 – Notification of sanctions
Article 18 – Application of sanctions and monitoring of their implementation
Article 19 – Suspension of application of sanctions against a Member State
Article 20 – Suspension of sanctions
Article 21 – Lifting of sanctions
Chapter 4
Final provisions
Article 22 – Amendment and revision
Article 23 – Publication
This Supplementary Act shall be published by the ECOWAS Commission in the Official Journal of the Community within thirty (30) days of its signing by the Heads of State and Government. It shall also be published by each Member State in its National Gazette within thirty (30) days of notification by the Commission.Article 24 – Entry into force
This Supplementary Act shall enter into force upon its publication. Consequently, Member States shall undertake to commence implementation of its provisions upon its entry into force.Article 25 – Miscellaneous provisions
The Supplementary Act shall supersede any other contrary provisions.Article 26 – Depository authority
This Supplementary Act shall be deposited at the Commission which shall forward certified copies to all Member States and shall register same with the African Union, United Nations Organisation and all other organisations selected by the Council.History of this document
19 August 2011 this version
Consolidation
01 August 2011
Commenced