The African Union has slapped a suspension on Burkina Faso following a coup that ousted President Christian Roch Marc Kabore from office.

The continental bloc’s Political Affairs, Peace and Security Council met on Monday, January 31st for its 1062nd meeting during which the decision was taken.

The meeting took opening remarks by Amb. Amma-Twum-Amoah, of Ghana, the outgoing chair of the AUPSC followed by Statements by Comm. Bankole Adeoye of the Council and the Representative of Burkina Faso

“Council decides in line with the relevant AU instruments(AU Constitutive Act; AUPSC Protocol; African Charter on Democracy, Elections & Governance, to suspend the participation of Burkina Faso in all AU activities until the effective restoration of constitutional order in the country,” the AU PSC posted on Twitter.

The AU follows the lead of West African regional bloc, ECOWAS, which suspended Burkina Faso last Friday, January 28, after an extraordinary virtual meeting of Heads of State.

An ECOWAS and UN-team are scheduled to meet junta leader Lt. Col. Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba and other political stakeholders today in Ouagadougou.

The government of President Christian Roch Marc Kabore was ousted by Damiba-led junta. In his first speech, the coup leader promised a return to normal when things are in order.

They cited rising insecurity for the ouster of the government.

Burkina Faso joins Mali and Guinea in the same group, bringing to three, the number of suspended West African States, all as a result of coups that ousted democratically elected presidents.