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African Union, ECOWAS Suspend Burkina Faso After Coup

The African Union has joined the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), West Africa's regional bloc, in suspending Burkina Faso in the aftermath of a military coup. Burkina Faso is the third ECOWAS member nation to be punished for a military takeover in just 18 months. The announcement by ECOWAS came several days after mutinous soldiers forced democratically elected President Roch Marc Christian Kabore to resign.

The soldiers went on state television to announce their military takeover of the country, which they said was under siege from armed groups.

Burkina Faso has a long legacy of military intervention. In the first 27 years of independence, Burkinabè soldiers staged five coups d'état and one autogolpe - a military coup initiated or abetted by a country's elected leader. One resulted in the death of the famed Captain Thomas Sankara. He gave Burkina Faso its name, meaning land of the upright people. The coup saw Sankara's second-in-command Captain Blaise Compaoré installed as president.

Burkina Faso: Burkina Faso Claims Return to Constitutionality After African Union Suspension

RFI, 1 February 2022

Burkina Faso's military junta claimed Monday that it had restored the constitution and has appointed its coup leader as head of state, following its suspension from the African… Read more »
Burkina Faso: African Union Suspends Burkina Faso in Response to Coup

VOA, 31 January 2022

Exactly one week after Burkina Faso's president was overthrown in a military coup, the African Union has suspended the west African nation. Read more »
Burkina Faso: Economic Community of West African States Suspends Govt After Military Coup

Leadership, 29 January 2022

The Economic community of West African States (ECOWAS), West Africa's regional bloc, has suspended Burkina Faso in the aftermath of a military coup, making it the third member… Read more »
West Africa: The United States Support of ECOWAS and African Union Actions On Burkina Faso

State Department, 31 January 2022

The United States supports the actions announced by the African Union on January 31 and the actions taken by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on January 28 in… Read more »
Burkina Faso: French Army Says Dozens of 'Terrorists Neutralized'

DW, 31 January 2022

France says nearly 60 fighters from Islamist militias were killed in the days leading up to the coup. The jihadists were killed by forces involved with Operation Barkhane led by… Read more »
Burkina Faso: Coup Puts Rights At Risk - HRW

HRW, 27 January 2022

Uphold Basic Protections, Restore Civilian Democratic Rule Read more »
Burkina Faso: Who Is Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, Leader of Military Takeover?

RFI, 25 January 2022

After a chaotic weekend of protests and a mutiny, soldiers in Burkina Faso announced on Monday evening they had taken over the country and arrested the President Roch Marc… Read more »
West Africa: Coup in Burkina Faso Bodes Ill for Stability in West Africa

CFR, 25 January 2022

Putschists in West Africa should not interpret initial popular support for coups as an indication that citizens no longer desire responsive, accountable governance. Read more »
Burkina Faso: Burkina Faso Coup - Latest Sign of a Rise in the Ballot Box Being Traded for Bullets

The Conversation Africa, 25 January 2022

When news broke that soldiers had mutinied in Burkina Faso, it was hardly surprising. Burkina Faso's history has been plagued by both army mutinies and military coups… Read more »
Burkina Faso: Military Claims to Have Taken Power, Suspends Constitution

DW, 24 January 2022

Burkina Faso's military announced on state TV that it had taken control of the country after detaining President Roch Kabore. Read more »
Burkina Faso: Guterres Calls On Coup Leaders to 'Lay Down Their Arms'

UN News, 24 January 2022

Following Sunday's coup in Burkina Faso carried out by sections of the armed forces, the United Nations' Secretary-General is following the developments in the landlocked West… Read more »