By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Correspondent
FORMER NIGERIAN President Goodluck Jonathan has been escorted from Guinea-Bissau by military personnel as political instability deepened following a contested presidential election.
Jonathan was in the country as part of a joint election observer mission deployed by the African Union (AU), ECOWAS, and the West African Elders Forum (WAEF). The former president was moved under military protection amid escalating tensions, the release stated.
The military takeover followed declarations of victory by both incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and opposition candidate Fernando Dias, despite official results from Sunday’s election not being released.
Soldiers announced the suspension of the electoral process, closure of borders, and enforcement of a nationwide curfew.
Nigeria’s House of Representatives had earlier urged the Federal Government to ensure Jonathan’s safe and prompt return to the country.
Lawmakers also called on authorities to activate all diplomatic channels to secure the former president’s evacuation and requested that other Nigerians trapped in Guinea-Bissau be rescued.
Military officers in Guinea-Bissau declared “total control” on Wednesday, a day after both leading presidential candidates claimed victory in a tightly contested vote.
A statement from the officers ordered the “immediate suspension” of the electoral process, closure of all land, air, and sea borders, and an overnight curfew “until further notice”.
Reports indicated sustained gunfire near the election commission headquarters, the presidential palace, and the interior ministry in the capital, Bissau, hours before the military announcement.
Results from Sunday’s election had been expected on Thursday, but both Embaló and Dias insisted they had won the vote.
Embaló had been arrested by armed men in Bissau on Wednesday, heightening fears of instability following the election.
The president confirmed to Jeune Afrique, a sister publication of The Africa Report, that he was taken into custody around 1.00pm while at the presidential palace.
Also detained were Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Biaguê Na Ntan, Deputy Chief of Staff General Mamadou Touré, and Interior Minister Botché Candé.
Embaló stated that no force was used against him during what he described as a “coup d’état” orchestrated by the army chief of staff.
The unfolding situation has thrown Guinea-Bissau into renewed political uncertainty, with the military taking control just as the nation awaited the official declaration of election results.
Jonathan’s role as an election observer was part of a coordinated effort by AU, ECOWAS, and WAEF to monitor the democratic process in the country.
His safe evacuation under military protection stresses the escalating tensions and security risks for foreign delegations amid the contested election and coup attempt.
The House of Representatives in Nigeria reiterated the importance of diplomatic engagement to secure Jonathan’s return and called for the protection of other Nigerian citizens present in Guinea-Bissau during the crisis.
Military statements emphasized immediate operational control over national institutions and borders, including land, air, and sea checkpoints, as well as enforcement of a nationwide curfew “until further notice”.
The takeover comes after both presidential candidates claimed victory, with the main opposition candidate previously disqualified from the race.
Gunfire reports near government and electoral sites accompanied the military’s assertion of control, reflecting the precarious security situation in Bissau.
Observers note that the military’s actions effectively suspend the electoral process, leaving the outcome of the presidential race unresolved.
Jonathan and other international election monitors were present to witness the process, which has been disrupted by the coup.
The Nigerian legislature highlighted the urgency of ensuring the safety of Jonathan and other nationals, urging the Federal Government to employ all available diplomatic measures to secure their protection.
