AU Lifts Guinea’s Suspension Following Democratic Elections

The African Union (AU) has officially reinstated Guinea into the continental body, ending the country’s suspension that followed the September 5, 2021 military coup.

The decision was announced after the 1,325th meeting of the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC), held on January 22, 2026, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Guinea’s reinstatement follows its return to constitutional order, marked by the successful conduct of presidential elections on December 28, 2025.

The country had been suspended from all AU activities after the coup that ousted former president Alpha Condé and brought Colonel Mamadi Doumbouya to power.

Following a transition period of just over four years, Doumbouya was elected president and sworn in on January 17, 2026, for a seven-year term.

In its statement, the Peace and Security Council urged Guinean authorities to continue efforts to consolidate democratic governance and strengthen constitutional order.