Former President Jonathan trapped in Guinea-Bissau amid military coup

Former President Goodluck Jonathan is among African leaders currently stranded in Guinea-Bissau following a military coup in the country. Jonathan is part of a 36-member delegation of high-profile observers from the African Union (AU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the West African Elders Forum (WAEF), sent to monitor the presidential election held on Sunday.

On Wednesday, military officers seized control of the government and suspended the electoral process. The takeover came after President Umaro Embaló, who is seeking re-election, and his main challenger, Fernando Dias, each declared victory despite the electoral commission not releasing official results.

Following the coup, the military closed all borders and shut down airports. In a statement, the observer mission expressed “deep concern” over the intervention, noting, “It’s regrettable that 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.”

The observers have called on the AU and ECOWAS to take urgent action to restore constitutional order and demanded the immediate release of all detained officials. The delegation is scheduled to leave Guinea-Bissau on November 29.