Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is safe and has left Guinea-Bissau following the military coup that overthrew the country’s government, the Federal Government confirmed on Thursday.
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said Jonathan departed on a special flight with members of his delegation, including Mohamed Chambas, after completing his duties in the country.
Jonathan had been in Guinea-Bissau as leader 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 state. 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 ECOWAS Election Observation Mission; and Jonathan condemned the coup and described it as a direct attempt to disrupt the nation’s democratic process. They urged residents to remain calm and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Guinea-Bissau during what they called “this sensitive period,” stressing the need to preserve peace, stability and the well-being of the Bissau-Guinean people.
The Federal Government also denounced the coup, calling it a serious threat to democracy and regional stability. In a statement issued on Thursday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it received news of the development “with profound dismay and deep concern,” criticising the military takeover for resulting in an unconstitutional change of government and describing it as a violation of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.
Guinea-Bissau descended into crisis on Wednesday after military officers declared “total control” of the country, closed all borders and suspended electoral activities. Heavy gunfire rang out near the presidential palace as soldiers blocked major access routes. General Denis N’Canha, head of the presidential military office, announced that a command made up of all branches of the armed forces had assumed leadership until further notice. In a phone call with France24, incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embalo said, “I have been deposed,” and was reported to be inside a building behind military headquarters “with the chief of staff and the minister of the interior.”
Both Embalo and opposition candidate Fernando Dias had already claimed victory in Sunday’s polls, with provisional results expected on Thursday. The military alleged it uncovered a plot involving “national drug lords” and the importation of weapons “to alter the constitutional order.” Later on Thursday, military authorities announced the reopening of the country’s borders, with General Lansana Mansali, Inspector General of the Armed Forces, stating, “All borders are now open.”
More than 6,700 security personnel, including members of the ECOWAS Stabilisation Force, had been deployed for the elections amid heightened political tension. Guinea-Bissau, one of the world’s poorest countries, has experienced repeated coups, with four successful takeovers and several attempts since independence.
