In a dramatic turn of events following a brazen military coup in Guinea-Bissau, former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has been safely escorted out of the West African nation by a joint security detail comprising Nigerian diplomatic personnel, ECOWAS representatives, and local military escorts. The swift intervention, coordinated under intense diplomatic pressure from the Federal Republic of Nigeria, ensured the 68-year-old elder statesman's secure departure from Bissau on Thursday afternoon, November 27, 2025, mere hours after the House of Representatives issued an urgent call for his evacuation.
Dr. Jonathan, serving as Head of the West African Elders Forum (WAEF) Election Observation Mission, had been trapped alongside over 300 international observers – including former Mozambican President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi (Head of the African Union Mission) and ECOWAS Mission Lead Issifu Baba Braimah Kamara – since Wednesday evening's violent takeover. The group was in Bissau to monitor the presidential and parliamentary elections held on November 23, 2025, which had unfolded peacefully with high voter turnout and professional conduct at polling stations.
The coup erupted around 7:00 PM local time on November 26, when heavy gunfire echoed near the presidential palace, leading to the arrest of incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and several senior officials, including members of the National Electoral Commission. Brigadier General Denis N’Canha, former head of the presidential guard, declared the formation of the “High Military Command for the Restoration of National Security and Public Order,” citing a “destabilization plot involving national politicians and a well-known drug baron.” The junta immediately suspended the electoral process – just one day before provisional results were due – imposed a nationwide curfew, and sealed all land, air, and sea borders, stranding observers and preventing the declaration of results that both leading candidates, President Embaló and opposition leader Fernando Dias da Costa, had pledged to respect.
Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes at Osvaldo Vieira International Airport, where hundreds of foreign dignitaries, journalists, and election monitors rushed amid fears of escalating violence. Flights were grounded, and roads to the airport were barricaded by armed soldiers. Dr. Jonathan and his delegation, who had concluded meetings with the candidates earlier that day, retreated to secure hotel locations under AU and ECOWAS protection. In a joint statement released late Wednesday, the observer heads expressed profound dismay:
“We deplore this blatant attempt to disrupt the democratic process and the gains achieved thus far. It is regrettable that this announcement came at a time when the missions had just concluded meetings with the two leading presidential candidates, who assured us of their willingness to accept the will of the people. We call on the armed forces to immediately release all detainees, including senior officials overseeing the electoral process, and allow the results to be announced without further interference.”
The statement, signed by Dr. Jonathan, President Nyusi, and Mr. Kamara, urged calm among Guinea-Bissau's citizens and reaffirmed the missions' solidarity with the nation's democratic aspirations.
Nigeria's response was immediate and resolute. Upon learning of the developments, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu activated emergency protocols through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, dispatching a high-level team led by Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar to liaise with ECOWAS counterparts in Abuja and Bissau. The Nigerian contingent, bolstered by military attachés and intelligence operatives embedded with the multinational peacekeeping presence, negotiated safe passage for Dr. Jonathan and key Nigerian observers. By midday Thursday, a heavily guarded convoy – escorted by junta-aligned military personnel as a goodwill gesture amid regional pressure – ferried the former president to the airport. A specially arranged ECOWAS-chartered flight departed Bissau at 2:45 PM GMT, touching down at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja shortly after 6:00 PM local time.
Dr. Jonathan, appearing composed in initial remarks upon arrival, thanked the Nigerian government, ECOWAS, and the AU for their swift action:
“I am grateful to President Tinubu, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and our regional partners for ensuring my safe return. This incident underscores the fragility of democracy in our sub-region, but it also highlights the strength of collective African solidarity. My thoughts are with the people of Guinea-Bissau, who deserve the fruits of their peaceful vote. We must all work to restore constitutional order without delay.”
The House of Representatives, in a unanimous motion moved by House Leader Prof. Julius Ihonvbere during Thursday's plenary, had earlier demanded “all diplomatic channels be activated to secure the immediate and unharmed evacuation of former President Jonathan and all stranded Nigerians.” Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda emphasized the broader implications: “While we prioritize Dr. Jonathan’s safety as a matter of national honor, every Nigerian abroad must receive equal protection in times of crisis.” The resolution also called for enhanced mechanisms to safeguard citizens in volatile regions.
As of this release, at least 50 Nigerian nationals – including election staff, journalists, and business travelers – remain in Bissau, with the Ministry confirming ongoing efforts to facilitate their exit. The coup has drawn widespread international condemnation, with the United Nations, European Union, and United States echoing calls for the release of detainees and respect for the electoral mandate. Guinea-Bissau, notorious for at least nine coups since independence in 1974, now faces potential sanctions from ECOWAS, which suspended the nation’s membership pending restoration of order.
The Federal Government reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the safety of Nigerians worldwide and to promoting democratic stability across West Africa. Further briefings will be provided as the situation evolves.
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