Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is safe and has departed Guinea-Bissau following the military coup that overthrew the country’s government, the Federal Government confirmed on Thursday.
Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told journalists in Abuja that Jonathan left the country aboard a special flight alongside members of his delegation, including Mohamed Chambas.
Jonathan had been in Guinea-Bissau as the head of the West African Elders Forum Election Observation Mission, monitoring last Sunday’s presidential and legislative elections before soldiers announced they had taken control of the country.
In a joint statement on Wednesday, Filipe Nyusi (Head of the AU Election Observation Mission), Issifu Kamara (Head of the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission), and Jonathan condemned the military takeover, calling it a direct attempt to derail Guinea-Bissau’s democratic process. They appealed for calm and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the country “during this sensitive period.”
The Federal Government also strongly condemned the coup, describing it as a serious threat to democracy and regional peace. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed “deep concern” and labelled the military action a violation of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.
Guinea-Bissau was thrown into confusion on Wednesday after military officers declared they had taken “total control,” shut down borders, and halted all electoral processes. Heavy gunfire was reported near the presidential palace, and soldiers blocked major routes.
General Denis N’Canha, head of the presidential military office, announced that a military command “composed of all branches of the armed forces” would run the country until further notice.
In a phone interview with France24, President Umaro Sissoco Embalo confirmed, “I have been deposed.” He was said to be in a building behind military headquarters along with top officials.
Both Embalo and opposition candidate Fernando Dias had earlier claimed victory in the elections, with provisional results expected on Thursday.
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The military claimed it discovered a plot involving “national drug lords” and illegal arms to disrupt constitutional order.
Later on Thursday, military authorities announced the reopening of the country’s borders. According to General Lansana Mansali, “All borders are now open.”
More than 6,700 security personnel, including ECOWAS Stabilisation Forces, had been deployed for the elections amid high political tension. Guinea-Bissau, one of the poorest countries globally, has a long history of coups, with four successful power seizures and numerous attempts since independence.
