( CNN ) -- Guinea-Bissau has been suspended from the African Union in the wake of last week 's military coup . The suspension remains `` until the restoration of constitutional order , '' the union said Tuesday . The union cited the `` recurrence of illegal and unacceptable interference of the leadership of Guinea-Bissau 's army on the politics of the country , creating instability and culture of impunity , which have hampered the development of the country . '' The union said it will request the cooperation of international organizations including the United Nations , the European Union and the Economic Community of West African States to apply additional sanctions , including a travel ban on key members of the junta . `` The African Union is doing their job , and we are doing our job , '' said Daba Naualna , a spokesman for the junta that has taken over the country . He argued that history will show that the coup was the right thing to do . Eventually , the African Union will be able to understand the situation , he said . The military command has said the revolt was in response to a `` secret deal '' between the government and Angola to allow Angolan troops in the country to attack the military . The junta insisted that the African Union , whose rotating presidency is currently held by Angola , supports intervention by Angolan forces . Angola , also a former Portuguese colony , issued a statement last week saying it would unilaterally withdraw its troops . A number of its troops are in Guinea-Bissau to help reform the country 's armed forces , Angola said . Meanwhile , Naualna said an interim president and a former prime minister of Guinea-Bissau will be freed from detention as soon as conditions allow . Interim President Raimundo Pereira and former Prime Minister Carlos Gomes Jr. `` are being detained for security reasons , '' Naualna said . The junta `` does not anticipate '' the return of Pereira and Gomes to power , despite international condemnations of the coup . The developments came after the military command met Monday with the Economic Community of West African States regional bloc , which has denounced the coup and called for the junta `` to restore constitutional rule immediately . '' Naualna said the West African group agreed to send a technical mission to Guinea-Bissau as soon as possible to help find solutions to the crisis , though specific details were not released . Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara will lead the talks within the bloc , Naualna said . After Thursday 's coup , military leaders and a group of mostly opposition political parties declared the formation of a transitional national council , spokesman Fernando Vaz said . The composition of the council had yet to be determined , he said , but the president of the council will be the interim president of the country until parliamentary and presidential elections are held . The formation of the council effectively means the constitution will be suspended , a scenario similar to events in 2003 , after a coup against President Kumba Iala . Coups and coup attempts are common in Guinea-Bissau since it won independence from Portugal in 1974 . Soldiers took Pereira and Gomes into custody Thursday night , sparking international condemnation . Leaders of the nation 's armed forces have taken control of the nation to ensure stability , Naualna said . `` The ( army chief of staff ) thinks , for the sake of the country , that power can not fall into the streets and decided to have ( the military ) play its part in seeking solutions with the political class to resolve this crisis , '' he said . On Sunday , the `` military command '' announced the closure of Guinea-Bissau to all air traffic and maritime circulation from abroad as a matter `` of national security and safeguard of the territory of Guinea-Bissau . '' A chorus of world leaders has denounced last week 's coup , which occurred just before the second round of a presidential election set for April 29 . The African Union , the United Nations and the United States called for a return to civilian rule and demanded the release of the leaders . Foreign ministers from the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries , of which Guinea-Bissau is a member , have also condemned the coup . Guinea-Bissau 's conflicts have ravaged its infrastructure and economy , leaving it among the poorest in the world . The nation 's first round of voting in a presidential election was held in March , and campaigning for the second round was about to begin . The election was prompted by the death of the incumbent Malam Bacai Sanha in January after a long illness . Sanha had become president in September 2009 after the assassination of his predecessor . Despite his coming to power in what international observers deemed a fair and peaceful election , his tenure was marked by turmoil among the country 's military and political leadership . To date , no democratically elected president of the country has served a full five-year term . CNN 's Kim Chakanetsa and David McKenzie contributed to this report .
NEW : The African Union supports Guinea - Bissau . NEW : History will show we were right , the junta says . Note : The acting president and former prime minister are ` ` detained for political reasons '' Guinea - Guinea has had several coups since it gained independence in 1974 .