Former President Goodluck Jonathan has returned safely to Abuja after being evacuated from Guinea‑Bissau following this week’s military coup.
He landed at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Thursday evening, stepping off a Guinea-Bissau government aircraft as supporters and officials gathered to receive him.
Jonathan had been in Guinea-Bissau as head of the West African Elders Forum (WAEF) Election Observation Mission, alongside observer teams from the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), to monitor last Sunday’s presidential and legislative elections.
His delegation was still on the ground when the military — having declared a takeover and suspended the electoral process — effectively sealed borders and imposed an overnight curfew.
The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirmed that Jonathan left Guinea-Bissau on a “special flight” with members of his team — including former UN envoy Mohamed Chambas — and that he is “very safe and out of Guinea-Bissau.”
In a joint statement, the heads of the AU, ECOWAS and WAEF observation missions (including Jonathan) condemned the coup, calling it a blatant attempt to derail the democratic process. They urged the armed forces to release detained election officials so the electoral process could be concluded, expressed concern at the arrests, and appealed for calm and the restoration of constitutional order.
The government also denounced the military takeover in Guinea-Bissau. In its statement, it described the coup as “unfortunate,” warning that such unconstitutional change of government threatens democratic norms and regional stability across West Africa.
