 Welcome back to all the parts of Africa now. The African Union has suspended Mali from membership in the continental body in response to last week's military coup. In a statement, the AU also threatened to impose sanctions on the landlocked West African nation if a civilian led government was not restored. Last week, a Mali's military arrested interim President Bartender and Prime Minister Mokta Owani and forced them to resign. The African Union has suspended Mali's membership in response to last week's military coup and is threatening sanctions if a civilian led government isn't restored. The military arrested interim President Bartender and Prime Minister Mokta Owani last week and pressured them to resign, derailing a transition to democratic elections. That was after another military coup last August ousted the previous administration. Former Vice President Assimi Goyta, a colonel who led the August coup and last week's revolt, was declared president on Friday. The African Union is calling for, quote, an unimpeded transparent and swift return to the civilian-led transition, failing which it wouldn't hesitate to impose targeted sanctions. Mali's neighbors and international powers fear the latest revolt would dash promises to hold a presidential election in February and undermine original fight against Islamist militants, some of which are based in Mali's desert north. The African Union suspended Mali after last August coup, but reinstated the country a few weeks later after the heads of the new civilian-led transitional government were announced.