The Federal Government has confirmed that former President Goodluck Jonathan has safely exited Guinea-Bissau after Wednesday’s military coup.
Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa made this known on Thursday in an interview with journalists in Abuja.
He said, “Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is very safe and out of Guinea-Bissau.”
Jonathan, who led the West African Elders Forum Election Observation Mission, joined AU and ECOWAS observers in condemning the coup as “a direct attempt to disrupt Guinea-Bissau’s democratic process.”
He urged for calm and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the country “during this sensitive period.” Nigeria also denounced the takeover as an unconstitutional change of government.
He described this as a violation of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.
Jonathan had earlier been reported trapped after military officers seized power, with the House of Representatives urging the Federal Government to secure his safe return.
The coup leaders, calling themselves the “High Military Command for the Restoration of Order,” said they had taken “total control,” suspended the electoral process, closed all borders and imposed a curfew.
Ousted President Umaro Sissoco Embalo had said, “I have been deposed,” while reports indicated the arrest of opposition figure Domingos Simoes Pereira and attempts to cut off the internet.
General Denis N’Canha announced that a joint military command would run the country until further notice.
