The Federal Government says former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is safe and has already left Guinea-Bissau after the military coup that overturned the country’s government.
The confirmation was given on Thursday, November 27, by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, during an interview with journalists in Abuja.
“Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is very safe and out of Guinea-Bissau,” he said.
Jonathan had travelled to the country as head of the West African Elders Forum Election Observation Mission, monitoring last Sunday’s presidential and legislative elections.
His stay coincided with the announcement by the military that it had seized control of the government.
In a joint statement on Wednesday, Filipe Nyusi, former president of Mozambique and Head of the African Union Election Observation Mission; Issifu Kamara, Head of the Economic Community of West African States Election Observation Mission; and Jonathan condemned the military action, calling it a deliberate attempt to derail Guinea-Bissau’s democratic path.
They urged residents to remain calm and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the country “during this sensitive period,” highlighting “the importance of preserving peace, stability, and the well-being of the Bissau-Guinean people.”
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The Federal Government also issued a strong condemnation of the coup.
In a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigeria said it received news of the development “with profound dismay and deep concern,” describing it as “an unconstitutional change of government in the Republic of Guinea-Bissau” and a breach of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.
Guinea-Bissau descended into crisis on Wednesday after military officers declared they had taken “total control” of the country.
They shut the borders, suspended electoral activities, and stationed soldiers around key government locations as gunfire erupted near the presidential palace.
General Denis N’Canha, head of the presidential military office, later announced that a command “composed of all branches of the armed forces was taking over the leadership of the country until further notice.”