Along with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union (AU) has denounced the September 30, 2022 coup that occurred in Burkina Faso and saw one military junta overthrow another.

A report on National TV announcing the takeover on Friday night confirmed what had initially appeared to be a significant gunfire exchange earlier in the day.

Hours after the announcement, the ECOWAS Commission released a statement in which it sharply criticized the act at a time when the junta led by Lt. Col. Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba was moving toward a constitutional orderly transition by July 1, 2024.

The new junta led by Captain Ibrahim Traore said a new leader - civilian or military will be be announced in due course, but before that some measures put in place include dissolution of the government, the Transitional Legislative Assembly (ALT), and the Transition Charter as well as the closure of borders.

The AU statement signed by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission was titled: 'The Chairperson of the African Union Commission unequivocally condemns the second takeover of power by force in Burkina Faso,' and it read:

"In strong support of ECOWAS, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, and in conformity with the Lomé Declaration of Year 2000, the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance and the Accra Declaration on Unconstitutional Changes of Government, expresses his deep concern about the resurgence of unconstitutional changes of Government in Burkina Faso and elsewhere on the African Continent.

"The Chairperson calls upon the military to immediately and totally refrain from any acts of violence or threats to the civilian population, civil liberties, human rights, and ensure strict compliance with electoral deadlines for the restoration of Constitutional order by 1 July 2024, at the latest.

"The Chairperson reaffirms the continued support of the African Union to the people of Burkina Faso to ensure peace, stability and development of the country."