FG confirms safe evacuation of Jonathan after military takeover in Guinea-Bissau

The Federal Government has confirmed that former President Goodluck Jonathan has been successfully evacuated from Guinea-Bissau following a sudden military takeover in the West African nation.

Jonathan, who had traveled to the country as the head of an election observation mission, became stranded after soldiers seized power just as officials were preparing to announce the election results.

Reports earlier indicated that the military had shut down the airport and sealed all land borders, leaving Jonathan and several other international observers unable to depart.

Amid growing concern, the House of Representatives had called on the government to guarantee the safety and return of the former Nigerian leader.

Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced on Thursday that Jonathan and his team had departed on a special flight arranged for their evacuation.

“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 in a terse message.

Jonathan, along with Filipe Nyusi, former president of Mozambique and head of the African Union Election Observation Mission, and Issifu Kamara, who led the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission, had earlier condemned the coup. In their joint statement on Wednesday, they described the development as a direct attempt to undermine the country’s democratic process.

The group urged residents to remain calm and reiterated their commitment to supporting Guinea-Bissau “during this sensitive period,” stressing “the importance of preserving peace, stability, and the well-being of the Bissau-Guinean people.”