A former Nigerian president, Goodluck Jonathan, is currently trapped in Guinea-Bissau, where the military announced a takeover earlier in the day.
The Nigerian leader, alongside hundreds of foreign observers, is unable to leave the country where elections took place and results were about to be officially declared.
REPORTERS AT LARGE gathered that hundreds of foreign observers who raced to the airport in a bid to leave the country after the coup was announced are currently stranded.
A group of military officers claimed “total control” of the country, a day after two leading candidates—President Umaro Sissoco Embalo and Fernando Dias—each declared victory.
Calling themselves the “High Military Command for the Restoration of Order”, the officers ordered the immediate suspension of the electoral process “until further notice”.
They also ordered the closure of all land, air and sea borders and an overnight curfew.
“I have been deposed,” Embalo told French broadcaster France24 in a phone call, adding that he was “currently at the general staff headquarters.”
The head of the main opposition PAIGC party, Domingos Simoes Pereira, has also been arrested, Haque said. “As well, we’ve just heard that the military is trying to cut off the Internet. There’s a curfew in place.”
He added that the army officer leading the coup, Denis N’Canha, served as the head of the presidential guard.
“The man supposed to protect the president himself has put the president under arrest,” Haque said.
Upon his arrival in the country, Jonathan, who is head of the West African Elders Forum (WAEF) observer group, posted on social media, “We arrived in Bissau this evening as members of the West African Elders Forum (WAEF) Election Mission ahead of Guinea-Bissau’s presidential and parliamentary polls scheduled for November 23, 2025. We wish the people of Guinea-Bissau a peaceful, inclusive and transparent election.”
Two days later, he posted another update: OUT ON ELECTION DAY IN BISSAU.
“Members of the West African Elders Forum (WAEF) Election Mission today conducted visits to some polling stations in Bissau as voting commenced in Guinea-Bissau’s 2025 presidential and parliamentary elections. WAEF extends warm regards to the people and authorities of Guinea-Bissau and wishes for a smooth voting process and a peaceful, stable post-election period that strengthens unity and democratic governance,” he wrote.
Jonathan’s last update on Bissau was yesterday when he wrote that he went on a condolence visit to the family of the late Guinea-Bissau President, Manuel Sefiro Nhamado, “to condole with them on the recent passing of their matriarch and former First Lady, Mrs. Isolina Da Fonseca Nhamajo.”
He had posted five pictures he snapped with the family.
Jonathan Trapped but safe
Attempts to confirm the whereabouts and safety of Jonathan from Ikechukwu Eze, his spokesman, did not yield results as his telephone line was out of reach.
However, Ima Niboro, a former spokesman of the ex-president, confirmed to Daily Trust that the Nigerian leader, who recently marked his 68th birthday, was still in Guinea-Bissau when the coupists struck.
Daily Trust reports Niboro as saying that he spoke with those around Jonathan who assured him that the former president is safe but trapped alongside other foreign observers.
In a statement, Jonathan, alongside other African leaders in the country, condemned the coup.
“We express deep concern with the announcement of a coup d’etat by the armed forces while the nation was waiting for the announcement of the results. Regrettably, this announcement came at a time when the missions had just concluded meeting with the two leading presidential candidates, who assured us of their willingness to accept the will of the people.
“We deplore this blatant attempt to disrupt the democratic process and the gains that have been achieved thus far. We request the African Union and the ECOWAS to take the necessary steps to restore constitutional order.
“We express concern about the arrests of top officials, including those who are in charge of the electoral process. In this regard, we urge the armed forces to immediately release the detained officials to allow the country’s electoral process to proceed to its conclusion.
“We call on the people of Guinea-Bissau to remain calm, and we reaffirm our commitment to supporting the country on its democratic path, and in this respect, we underscore the importance of preserving peace, stability, and the well-being of the Bissau-Guinean people during this sensitive period,” the statement read.
