A bid by three West African countries still under military rule to re-join the African Union (AU) flopped on Sunday after their local bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), maintained sanctions imposed on them. It means Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso’s concerted effort of seeking to re-join the AU failed. Normally, the AU suspends countries that undergo unconstitutional changes in government such as coups until they provide a regular programme to resume civilian leaderships. Suspended indefinitelyMali, Guinea and Burkina Faso were indefinitely suspended from Ecowas at various times between 2020 and 2022. Ahead of the AU Summit, foreign ministers of Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso had travelled to the Ethiopian capital on joint a diplomatic push for a readmission and the lifting of Ecowas sanctions.
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