African Union suspends Burkina Faso over Military Coup

- Charvi
Date: 1 February 2022

The African Union (AU) has decided to suspend Burkina Faso's participation in AU events
following the military takeover, and subsequent removal of President Marc Roch Kabore
from office. "Council decides in line w/ the relevant AU instruments, to suspend the
participation of #BurkinaFaso in all AU activities until the effective restoration of
constitutional order in the country," read a Twitter post from the AU Commission's Political
Affairs, Peace and Security Department. 

On January 24, the military of Burkina Faso announced that they had seized power and put an
end to the functions of President Kabore. Following which, on January 28, the Economic
Community of West African States (ECOWAS) suspended the membership of Burkina Faso
over the military coup.

The AU’s move came three days after the ECOWAS suspended Burkina Faso from its ranks
and warned of possible sanctions pending the outcome of meetings with the coup makers,
who have dissolved the government and parliament and suspended the constitution, pledging
to re-establish “constitutional order” within a “reasonable time”.
An ECOWAS mission headed by Ghanaian Foreign Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey
arrived in the capital, Ouagadougou on Monday, together with the UN special representative
for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Mahamat Saleh Annadif. The ECOWAS
delegation met with Kabore and found him “in good spirits”. The delegation also met with
the coup leaders including the new head of state, Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Damiba, to
discuss security and the political transition, she said. “They seemed very open to the
proposals and to us that is a good sign,” said Ayorkor Botchway. “It is our position that the
transition should be short, so that Burkina Faso can return quickly back to constitutional
order.”