section_path: Politics/Member states
section_name: Member states
paragraph_text: Member states
  
  All UN member states based in Africa and on African islands are members of the AU, as is the partially recognized state of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). Morocco withdrew from the Organisation of African Unity in 1984 due to the admission as a member state of the SADR, whose territory of Western Sahara it claims sovereignty over. It was readmitted by the AU as a member state on 30 January 2017. Somaliland, which is claimed by Somalia, applied to join the AU in 2005.
  
  Mali was suspended from the African Union on 19 August 2020 following a military coup. On 9 October of the same year, the Peace and Security Council of the African Union lifted the suspension imposed on Mali, citing progress made to return to democracy. The country was again suspended on 1 June 2021, following its second military coup within nine months.
  
  Guinea's membership was also suspended by the African Union on 10 September 2021, after a military coup deposed the country's President Alpha Condé.
  
  Sudan's membership was suspended by the African Union on 27 October 2021, after a military coup deposed the civilian government led by Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok.
  
  Burkina Faso's membership was suspended by the African Union in the aftermath of a military coup on 31 January 2022.
  
  Niger's membership was suspended by the African Union on 22 August 2023 following a military coup in late July that deposed democratically elected president Mohamed Bazoum; this has since also led to the 2023 Nigerien crisis.
  
  Gabon's membership was suspended by the African Union on 31 August 2023 following a military coup that deposed president Ali Bongo Ondimba. In April 2025, the Peace and Security Council of the African Union rejoined the African Union and decided to lift sanctions against Gabon.