Jonathan Trapped in Guinea-Bissau After Military Putsch

Former Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan has been stranded in Guinea-Bissau following a sudden military takeover that halted the country’s electoral process and shut its borders.

Jonathan, who led a joint observer mission of the African Union, ECOWAS, and the West African Elders Forum, arrived in the country to monitor the presidential and parliamentary elections held on November 23.

Tension escalated on Wednesday as gunshots were reported around key government buildings in the capital, Bissau, shortly before military officers appeared on state television announcing that they had taken control of the government.

The soldiers dissolved state institutions, suspended the release of election results, and declared a nationwide curfew. They also ordered the closure of all land, air, and sea borders, effectively trapping foreign dignitaries and observers in the country.

Jonathan and other officials were said to be safe in their hotel but unable to leave due to the lockdown of airspace and borders. Many members of the observer mission had been preparing to depart before the coup disrupted all travel plans.

The takeover came amid a highly contested election in which both incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and opposition candidate Fernando Dias had prematurely declared victory.

The uncertainty heightened political tension and set the stage for the military’s intervention.

Regional bodies have condemned the coup, with the observer mission calling it a deliberate attempt to derail the democratic process. They urged the immediate restoration of constitutional order and demanded that the electoral commission be allowed to complete its work without intimidation.

As of the latest reports, the situation in Guinea-Bissau remains unstable, with no clarity on how long the military intends to hold power or when borders will reopen.

Jonathan and other international observers remain stranded as diplomatic efforts intensify to secure their safe evacuation.