Olayiwola Matthew
Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has been escorted out of Guinea-Bissau by military personnel as instability deepens following the latest coup attempt in the West African nation.
Jonathan, who 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), was moved under military protection as tensions escalated in the country.
The military takeover occurred after both incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and opposition candidate Fernando Dias declared themselves winners of Sunday’s presidential election, even though official results had not been released.
Soldiers subsequently announced the suspension of the electoral process, closure of borders, and enforcement of a nationwide curfew.
The House of Representatives had urged the Federal Government to ensure the safe return of Jonathan to Nigeria from Guinea-Bissau.
The lawmakers urged the government to activate all diplomatic means to secure Jonathan’s return following the coup in Guinea-Bissau, where he served as an election observer.
The House also asked the Federal Government to rescue other Nigerians trapped in Guinea-Bissau.
On Wednesday, it was reported that military officers in Guinea-Bissau announced a takeover, throwing the country into fresh political uncertainty as they declared “total control” a day after both leading presidential candidates claimed victory in a tightly contested vote.
In a statement, the officers said they had ordered the “immediate suspension” of the electoral process, the closure of all land, air, and sea borders, and an overnight curfew “until further notice.”