Goodluck Jonathan Stranded in Guinea-Bissau After Military Coup

Military Takeover Disrupts Election Observation Mission

Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan is among several African leaders and election observers stranded in Guinea-Bissau after the military seized power and suspended the country’s electoral process on Wednesday.

Jonathan is part of a 36-member joint election observation mission organized by the African Union (AU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the West African Elders Forum (WAEF). The mission was in Guinea-Bissau to monitor Sunday’s presidential election, which was expected to be a critical step in the country’s democratic process.

The coup occurred after both the incumbent president, Umaro Embaló, and his main challenger, Fernando Dias, claimed victory in the election. The claims came despite the fact that the national electoral commission had not yet released official results. Following the competing claims, military officers quickly moved to seize control of key state institutions, including government offices and the national broadcasting service. Borders were closed, and all airports were shut down, effectively halting the movement of people in and out of the country.

Guinea-Bissau president detained as military takes control

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the observer mission said it was “deeply concerned” about the military intervention. The statement called the coup “regrettable,” noting that it occurred shortly after members of the mission met with both top candidates, who had assured them they would respect the will of the voters. The statement emphasized that the mission expected immediate steps to restore constitutional order and the release of all detained government officials.

The delegation had been scheduled to leave Guinea-Bissau on November 29, but it is unclear whether the airport shutdown will prevent them from departing as planned. Diplomatic sources indicate that the AU and ECOWAS are monitoring the situation closely and are in contact with regional partners to explore safe exit options for the stranded observers.

Guinea-Bissau has a history of political instability, with multiple coups and attempted takeovers in the past two decades. Analysts say that the latest military action could worsen the country’s fragile political climate and affect regional security in West Africa.

For now, the focus remains on ensuring the safety of the observation mission members and restoring order so that the election process can continue under constitutional authority. The AU and ECOWAS are expected to make official statements in the coming days addressing the coup and outlining measures to resolve the crisis.