Former Nigerian President and regional peace envoy, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, was safely evacuated from Guinea-Bissau yesterday, the Federal Government confirmed, following a sudden military coup that overthrew the elected government and suspended the country’s electoral process.
Dr. Jonathan, who was in the capital Bissau leading the West African Elders Forum (WAEF) Election Observation Mission for the recently concluded presidential and legislative polls, was initially stranded after the military shut down all air and land borders following their announcement of a takeover.
The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through its spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, confirmed the former President’s safe arrival in Abuja on Thursday, stating he was evacuated via a special flight alongside members of his delegation. The swift diplomatic action followed an urgent call by the Nigerian House of Representatives for President Bola Tinubu’s administration to ensure the immediate and safe return of the former Head of State.
The coup, which occurred just as the National Electoral Commission (CNE) was due to announce the official election results, has been met with immediate and unequivocal condemnation from key regional and continental bodies.
Dr. Jonathan, along with the Heads of the African Union (AU) and ECOWAS Election Observation Missions, had issued a joint statement deploring the military action as “a blatant attempt to disrupt the democratic process” and calling for the immediate restoration of constitutional order.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), currently chaired by President Bola Tinubu, swiftly held an extraordinary virtual summit to address the crisis. The regional bloc announced the immediate suspension of Guinea-Bissau from all decision-making bodies and demanded the unconditional release of the detained President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and other officials.
The African Union Commission Chairperson also condemned the coup in the strongest terms, reiterating the AU’s “zero tolerance” policy for any unconstitutional change of government and pledging to work with ECOWAS to restore stability.
The military officers, identifying themselves as the “High Military Command for the Restoration of National Security,” cited an alleged plan by “national politicians” and “well-known drug barons” to destabilize the country as the reason for their intervention. They have since sworn in an Army General as the transitional leader for a one-year period.
