AU suspends membership of Mali over coup

The African Union has suspended the membership of Mali in the bloc following the recent military coup, until normal constitutional order is restored in the West African country.

The suspension, issued by the AU Peace and Security Council on late Tuesday, bans Mali from participating in all AU activities, organs and institutions. 

"The Peace and Security Council strongly urges the Malian military to urgently and unconditionally return to the barracks, and to refrain from further interference in the political processes in Mali," the statement read. 

The council also called for the creation of conditions for an unimpeded, transparent and swift return to a civilian-led transition, based on the agreed transition roadmap for the country. 

The council warned of imposing targeted sanctions and other punitive measures if the military fails to hand over power to a civilian-led transition. 

It also called on the Malian defense and security forces to immediately lift restrictions on all political actors, including the house arrest of Bah N'Daw, who resigned as the transitional president on May 26, and his prime minister Moctar Ouane.

The council urged the military leadership and all political stakeholders to fully and unconditionally respect the transition charter. 

The suspension came in addition to calling for the immediate appointment of a civilian prime minister to lead the conclusion of the transition process and coordinate an inclusive national reconciliation and dialogue process for the stability of the country. 

The AU decision followed a similar suspension on Sunday by the Economic Community of West African States. 

"The heads of state strongly condemn this recent coup d'etat, which is a violation of the decisions taken at the extraordinary summit held on Sept 15, 2020 and a violation of the transition charter," the regional political and economic union said in a statement. 

The bloc also called for immediate nomination of a new civilian prime minister and formation of a new inclusive government to proceed with the transition.