The Federal Government has confirmed that former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is safe and has already left Guinea Bissau after the military seized power in the West African country.
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, told journalists in Abuja that Jonathan departed on a special flight along with members of his delegation.
He said, “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.”
Jonathan was in the country as part of the West African Elders Forum Election Observation Mission.
He had been monitoring last Sunday’s presidential and legislative elections when soldiers announced they had taken control.
Shortly before he departed, Jonathan joined Filipe Nyusi, former president of Mozambique and leader of the African Union Election Observation Mission, and Issifu Kamara of the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission, in condemning the coup.
The trio said the takeover was a direct attempt to disrupt Guinea Bissau’s democratic process and urged residents to remain calm.
They also reaffirmed their commitment to support the country during what they called “this sensitive period” to protect peace, stability and the well-being of the population.
The Federal Government also issued a separate statement expressing “profound dismay and deep concern” over the development.
It described the action as an unconstitutional change of government and a breach of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.
Guinea Bissau was thrown into turmoil on Wednesday after military officers declared that they had taken “total control” of the country. Borders were closed, major roads were blocked and heavy gunfire rang out near the presidential palace.
General Denis N’Canha, who heads the presidential military office, announced that a command made up of all branches of the armed forces would run the country until further notice.
In a phone call with France24, incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embalo said, “I have been deposed.” AFP reported that he was inside a building behind military headquarters with the chief of staff and the interior minister.
The tension followed claims of victory by both Embalo and opposition candidate Fernando Dias in Sunday’s elections, with provisional results expected on Thursday.
The military said it uncovered a plot involving “national drug lords” and the importation of weapons aimed at altering the constitutional order.
Hours later, General Lansana Mansali, Inspector General of the Armed Forces, announced that borders had been reopened. “All borders are now open,” he told AFP.
More than 6,700 security personnel, including members of the ECOWAS Stabilisation Force, had been deployed for the elections due to the political atmosphere.
