Military Coup: Jonathan safe, out of Guinea-Bissau – FG confirms

The Federal Government has confirmed that former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is safe and has left Guinea-Bissau following Wednesday’s military coup that ousted the country’s civilian leadership.

This confirmation was issued on Thursday by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, during a briefing with journalists in Abuja.

According to him, Jonathan departed the country aboard a special flight alongside members of his delegation, including former UN Special Representative, Mohamed Ibn Chambas.

“Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is very safe and out of Guinea-Bissau. He left with a special flight with members of his delegation, including Mohamed Chambas,” Ebienfa stated.

Jonathan had been in Guinea-Bissau leading the West African Elders Forum Election Observation Mission for last Sunday’s presidential and parliamentary polls before the military took control of the country.

In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, Jonathan, together with Filipe Nyusi, former President of Mozambique and head of the AU Election Observation Mission, and Issifu Kamara, head of the ECOWAS Observation Mission, strongly condemned the coup.

They described the military action as a deliberate attempt to undermine Guinea-Bissau’s democratic process and appealed for calm.

The group also pledged continued support to the people of Guinea-Bissau “during this sensitive period,” emphasising the need to safeguard peace, stability and public welfare.

The Nigerian government also denounced the development, warning that the coup poses a grave threat to democracy and regional security.

In a statement on Thursday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it received news of the incident “with profound dismay and deep concern,” describing it as an “unconstitutional change of government” and a breach of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.

Guinea-Bissau spiralled into crisis on Wednesday after soldiers declared they had assumed “total control” of the state, shut its borders and halted the electoral process.

Heavy gunfire was reported around the presidential palace, while military personnel blocked major routes across the capital.

General Denis N’Canha, head of the presidential military office, announced that a joint command of all armed forces branches would run the country “until further notice.”

Incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, speaking to France24 by phone, confirmed the takeover, saying, “I have been deposed.”

AFP later reported that the president was inside a building near the military headquarters alongside the chief of staff and the interior minister.

Ahead of the announced provisional election results, both President Embaló and opposition candidate Fernando Dias had already claimed victory in Sunday’s elections.

The military alleged it had uncovered a conspiracy involving “national drug lords” and the illegal importation of weapons aimed at destabilising the constitutional order.

Later on Thursday, the military leadership announced the reopening of all borders. “All borders are now open,” General Lansana Mansali, Inspector General of the Armed Forces, told AFP.

More than 6,700 security personnel, including members of the ECOWAS Stabilisation Force, had been deployed for the polls amid rising political tension.

Guinea-Bissau, one of the poorest countries globally, has experienced chronic instability, with four successful coups and several failed attempts since gaining independence.

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