FORMER President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is safe and has successfully left Guinea-Bissau, the Federal Government confirmed on Thursday, easing concerns after a dramatic military coup plunged the West African nation into chaos.
News Point Nigeria reports that the reassurance came from the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, who briefed journalists in Abuja.
“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 said.
Jonathan had been in Guinea-Bissau as head of the West African Elders Forum (WAEF) Election Observation Mission, monitoring last Sunday’s presidential and legislative elections when soldiers announced they had seized power, closed borders, and taken control of major state institutions.
In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, Jonathan; Filipe Nyusi, former president of Mozambique and Head of the African Union Election Observation Mission; and Issifu Kamara, Head of the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission, denounced the military takeover, calling it a direct assault on Guinea-Bissau’s democratic process.
They urged residents to remain calm and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the country “during this sensitive period,” stressing the need to preserve peace, stability, and the well-being of the Bissau-Guinean people.
The Federal Government also issued a strong condemnation of the coup, describing it as a grave threat to democracy and stability in the subregion.
In a statement released on Thursday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it received news of the overthrow “with profound dismay and deep concern,” noting that the action amounted to an unconstitutional change of government and a violation of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.
Guinea-Bissau was thrown into turmoil on Wednesday after a group of senior military officers declared “total control” of the country. Soldiers shut down the borders, suspended all electoral activities, and positioned armed personnel around key streets and intersections in the capital, Bissau.
Heavy gunfire reportedly erupted near the presidential palace early Wednesday, heightening fears of escalating conflict.
General Denis N’Canha, head of the presidential military office, announced that a military command comprising all branches of the armed forces had taken over leadership “until further notice.”
In a phone interview with France24, incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embalo confirmed that he had been removed from office. According to AFP, he was sheltering behind the military headquarters alongside the chief of staff and the interior minister.
The coup came just as the nation awaited provisional election results. Both President Embalo and opposition candidate Fernando Dias had prematurely declared victory, setting the stage for potential post-election clashes.
Military officers claimed they acted to foil a plot allegedly involving “national drug lords” and the importation of weapons aimed at altering the constitutional order.
By Thursday afternoon, the junta announced the reopening of all borders. General Lansana Mansali, Inspector General of the Armed Forces, confirmed the development to AFP, signalling an easing of some restrictions.
More than 6,700 security personnel including ECOWAS Stabilisation Force troops had been deployed ahead of the elections due to widespread political tension.
Guinea-Bissau, one of the world’s poorest nations, has experienced four successful coups and several failed attempts since gaining independence, making it one of Africa’s most politically volatile states.