Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has been safely evacuated from Guinea-Bissau following a military takeover that threw the country into crisis and halted its electoral process. The Federal Government confirmed his departure on Thursday, November 27, 2025.
Escape from a Crisis
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, assured journalists in Abuja that Jonathan was unharmed. He revealed that the former president departed on a special flight alongside members of his delegation, which included Mohamed Chambas. "Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is very safe and out of Guinea-Bissau. He left with a special flight with members of his delegation, including Mohamed Chambas," Ebienfa stated.
Jonathan had been in the West African nation leading the West African Elders Forum Election Observation Mission. His team was monitoring the presidential and legislative elections that took place on Sunday before the military seized control, preventing the announcement of official results.
Condemnation and Military Action
The political situation deteriorated rapidly on Wednesday when military officers declared they had taken "total control" of Guinea-Bissau. They closed the nation's borders and suspended all electoral activities. Reports emerged of heavy gunfire near the presidential palace, and key access routes were blocked by the armed forces.
General Denis N'Canha, the head of the presidential military office, announced that a command "composed of all branches of the armed forces was taking over the leadership of the country until further notice." Incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embalo later confirmed in a phone call with France24 that he had been deposed. Meanwhile, opposition candidate Fernando Dias also claimed victory in the Sunday elections, creating further confusion.
The military justified its actions by claiming it had uncovered a plot involving "national drug lords" and the importation of weapons "to alter the constitutional order."
Regional Leaders Call for Calm and Constitutional Order
While temporarily trapped in the country due to suspended outgoing flights, Jonathan joined other African leaders in condemning the undemocratic intervention. In a powerful joint statement issued on Wednesday, Jonathan stood with Filipe Nyusi, the former president of Mozambique and head of the African Union Election Observation Mission, and Issifu Kamara, head of the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission.
They collectively condemned the coup as a direct attempt to disrupt Guinea-Bissau's democratic process. The statement called for calm among the populace and reaffirmed their support for the nation during the crisis. It stressed the critical need to preserve peace and stability.
The statement also urged the African Union and ECOWAS to act swiftly to restore constitutional order. It called for the immediate release of any detained electoral officials so that the democratic process could be properly concluded.
The Federal Government of Nigeria also issued a strong condemnation of the military action. It described the takeover as an unconstitutional change of government that blatantly violates the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.
