FG confirms Jonathan safe after Guinea-Bissau coup
The federal government says former President Goodluck Jonathan has safely left Guinea-Bissau following the military takeover in the country.
In a statement on Thursday, Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the ministry of foreign affairs, said Jonathan departed on a special flight with members of his delegation.
“Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is very safe and out of Guinea-Bissau. He left on a special flight with members of his delegation, including Mohamed Chambas,” Ebienfa said.
Jonathan was in the country as one of 36 high-profile observers on a joint mission by the African Union (AU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the West African Elders Forum (WAEF) to monitor Sunday’s presidential election.
But on Wednesday, military officers announced they had taken control of the government, suspended the electoral process and would remain in charge “until further notice.”
Nigeria has condemned the coup, saying it violates regional democratic norms and threatens the stability of the West African nation.
“This coup d’état represents a blatant violation of the fundamental principles of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, which explicitly rejects any ascension to power through unconstitutional means,” Ebienfa said in an earlier statement.
“We stand in solidarity with the people of Guinea-Bissau and call for the immediate and unconditional restoration of constitutional order, the safety and security of all those detained and the full respect for the sanctity of democratic institutions in Guinea-Bissau.
“The Nigerian government wishes to unequivocally call on the authorities in Guinea-Bissau to ensure and guarantee the safety of all election observers still in the country on official assignment.
“We warn that the perpetrators of this act will be held accountable for their actions, which threaten to plunge the nation into chaos and reverse the hard-won gains of its democracy.”
Nigeria said it will work with regional partners to ensure the “swift return” to stability and constitutional rule in Guinea-Bissau.
