By Ayo Kehinde
The African Union has officially lifted the sanctions and suspension imposed on Guinea following its 2021 military coup, marking the country’s formal return to the continental body.
The decision follows the successful conduct of the December 28, 2025, presidential election, which the AU described as a decisive milestone in the nation’s return to constitutional order.
In a statement released on Thursday, January 22, 2026, the AU Peace and Security Council expressed satisfaction with the implementation of the political transition roadmap.
The Council lifted the suspension of Guinea’s participation in all AU activities, effective immediately, after reviewing the final electoral processes that concluded Guinea’s four-year transition period.
The move comes days after General Mamadi Doumbouya was sworn in as a democratically elected president for a seven-year term on January 17, 2026.
Doumbouya, who initially seized power by ousting President Alpha Condé in September 2021, secured a landslide victory in the December polls with 86.72 percent of the vote. The result was recently validated by Guinea’s Supreme Court, despite initial petitions from runner-up Yero Baldé alleging irregularities.
During the 1325th Meeting of the Peace and Security Council, AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf congratulated Doumbouya but urged the new administration to prioritize national reconciliation.
The AU emphasized that this new chapter must be accompanied by sustained efforts to uphold the rule of law and strengthen social cohesion, particularly following years of criticism over the suppression of civil liberties during the transition.
The inauguration ceremony in Conakry was attended by several African heads of state, including the presidents of Senegal, Liberia, The Gambia, and Rwanda, signaling regional acceptance of the new government.
Nigeria was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who joined other leaders in witnessing the formal conclusion of military rule in the bauxite-rich West African nation.
While the lifting of sanctions marks a diplomatic victory for Doumbouya, the AU maintained that it would continue to monitor the country’s progress to ensure that the “restoration of dignity” promised to the Guinean people is backed by genuine democratic reforms and the protection of human rights.
