The African Union has announced that it is suspending Guinea following the coup in the West African country that saw its president Alpha Conde taken captive by the military special forces.
The pan-African body said on Twitter that it “decides to suspend the Republic of Guinea from all AU activities and decision-making bodies”.
Guinean special forces seized power on Sunday and arrested Conde, who had been under heat for perceived nepotism.
The AU earlier had condemned the military takeover and demanded for the release of Conde, who became the country’s first democratically elected president in 2010.
AU’s decision to suspend Guinea is coming after a similar move on Wednesday by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which has sent a mission to the country to evaluate the situation there. ECOWAS called for an “immediate return to constitutional order” in the country, with an ECOWAS delegation set to arrive in the country’s capital, Conakry, today to hold talks with the junta.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has also condemned the ruling military junta and called for Conde’s release.
The AU’s Political Affairs, Peace and Security Council said it called on AU Commission chief Moussa Faki to “engage with stakeholders in the region” on the crisis.
