The Federal Government of Nigeria has confirmed that former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is safe and has successfully left Guinea-Bissau, following the military coup that disrupted the country’s general elections.

Jonathan, who was in Guinea-Bissau as part of the ECOWAS Election Monitoring Mission, became a major subject of public concern after soldiers announced they had seized power on November 23, halting the presidential and legislative election process.

FG Confirms Jonathan’s Safety

Speaking on Thursday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs—through its spokesperson—reassured Nigerians that the former President had safely exited the troubled country.

According to the ministry:

“Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is very safe and out of Guinea-Bissau.”

How the Crisis Unfolded

The elections in Guinea-Bissau were proceeding peacefully until a faction of the armed forces declared they had removed the president and suspended the electoral exercise.
Nigeria, the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) all condemned the forceful takeover.

AU, ECOWAS Missions Decry Attempt to Derail Democracy

In a joint statement signed by:

Filipe Nyusi – Former President of Mozambique

Issifu Kamara

Goodluck Jonathan – Former President of Nigeria

the ECOWAS and AU observer missions expressed deep concern over the coup announcement.

They praised the citizens of Guinea-Bissau for their peaceful participation in the voting process and criticized the military’s attempt to interrupt democracy.

The missions said:

“Despite these encouraging developments, we express deep concern with the announcement of a coup d’état while the nation awaited results.
We deplore this blatant attempt to disrupt the democratic process and the gains achieved so far.”

Calls for Restoration of Constitutional Order

The observer missions urged the AU and ECOWAS leadership to take urgent steps to restore constitutional governance in Guinea-Bissau.

They also condemned the arrest of officials involved in the electoral process, calling for their immediate release to allow the election to reach its lawful conclusion.

The joint statement appealed to citizens to remain calm while the international community works to support peace and stability.

“We reaffirm our commitment to supporting Guinea-Bissau on its democratic path and emphasize the importance of preserving peace and stability during this sensitive period.”