Link: https://www.statewatch.org/news/2026/february/the-eu-targets-guinea-for-visa-punishment-a-sign-of-what-s-to-come/

On 15 July 2025, the European Commission proposed punitive visa sanctions against Guinea, marking an escalation in its campaign to force third countries to cooperate on deportations. This move, based on Article 25a of the EU Visa Code, cites Guinea’s persistent “failure to cooperate sufficiently” with the EU’s deportations agenda. It is emblematic of the coercive diplomacy the EU is willing to resort to

The intended message to partner countries is clear: cooperation on readmission is a non-negotiable condition for a smooth relationship. The EU will use all its tools of punishment if sovereign countries refuse to cooperate. The process of systematic review, diplomatic exchange and threat of punishment applied to Guinea, as well as to Ethiopia and The Gambia before it, is a template ready for the EU to use against other countries if they want to.

The tone of the article seems to suggest that refusing the deportation of your own citizens is a legitimate move by Guinea, it's not. So the EU replies in the same currency.. which I find perfectly proportional, contrast to what the newspaper suggests.

Why is it not a legitimate move? A country is supposed to protect its citizens from harm.

Most deportations are unjust, and if the only efficient way to stop unfair deportations by us is to block them wholesale, then a country has the responsibility towards its citizens to do so.

Anything else would be madness.

A country refusing the return of its own citizens, no this is not ok. And on the other hand, being able to deport foreigners is part of the sovereignty of any country, and migrating to countries like Guinea is not, contrary to the general assumptions, easy, because those countries are very aware of their sovereignty.

The country is not refusing the return of its own citizens. It is refusing bringing its citizen from one country to another against their own will in a situation where there is no unavoidable and pressing need to do so.