African Union suspends Burkina Faso after military coup

OUAGADOUGOU, Jan 31 Reuters-  The African Union has suspended Burkina Faso from all its activities in response to last week’s military coup, effective until constitutional order is restored, the AU said on Monday.  
“Council decides in line with the relevant AU instruments... to suspend the participation of Burkina Faso in all AU activities until the effective restoration of constitutional order in the country,” the AU Political Affairs, Peace and Security Department said in a Twitter post.   A United Nations envoy were due to visit Burkina Faso on Monday to meet with the coup leaders before deciding on next steps.  

The Economic Community of West African States and its international allies have condemned the coup, which they fear could further destabilize a country beset by Islamist violence, but find themselves with limited leverage.  
Cap: The new military ruler of Burkina Faso, Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Damiba. (Reuters)