In a swift resolution to a tense international incident, former Nigerian President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, a Bayelsa-born son of the Niger Delta and esteemed elder statesman, has been safely evacuated from Guinea-Bissau following a military coup that stranded him and dozens of other African dignitaries. Jonathan, serving as head of the West African Elders Forum (WAEF) election observation mission, departed the coup-hit nation on a special flight with his delegation, including former ECOWAS Commission President Mohamed Chambas, as confirmed by Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa.
The drama unfolded on November 26, 2025, when Guinea-Bissau’s military, styling itself the “High Military Command for the Restoration of Order,” seized power in the capital Bissau. Soldiers announced they had “total control” of the state, suspended the ongoing presidential and parliamentary electoral process, imposed a nationwide curfew, and sealed all land, sea, and air borders—preventing hundreds of foreign observers, including Jonathan, from leaving. The takeover came amid disputed election results from the November 23 polls, with incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and opposition leader Domingos Simões Pereira both claiming victory before official tallies could be released. Gunfire erupted near the presidential palace, and reports emerged of Embaló and other senior officials being detained.
Jonathan, a native of Otuoke in Bayelsa State and Nigeria’s 14th president (2010-2015), was in Bissau as part of a 36-member joint observer delegation from the African Union (AU), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and WAEF. His mission, alongside AU head Filipe Nyusi (former Mozambican president) and ECOWAS head Issifu Kamara, involved monitoring polls and consulting with candidates. Just hours before the coup, Jonathan had been active, posting on Facebook about visiting polling stations and paying condolences to the family of former First Lady Isolina Da Fonseca Nhamajo.
As chaos gripped the streets—marked by tear gas deployments against protesters and attempts to restrict internet access—Jonathan became unreachable, sparking alarm in Nigeria. ECOWAS spokesperson Joel Ahofodji confirmed to Reuters that Jonathan’s whereabouts were initially unknown, heightening fears for his safety amid Guinea-Bissau’s history of nine coups since independence in 1974. Associates, including former aide Ima Niboro, later verified he was safe but trapped, with the junta reportedly blocking airport access.
Nigerian lawmakers swiftly mobilized. On November 27, the House of Representatives, led by Majority Leader Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, adopted a motion of urgent national importance, urging President Bola Tinubu’s administration to “immediately activate all diplomatic channels” for Jonathan’s evacuation. Ihonvbere emphasized Jonathan’s stature as a “matter of national importance,” citing his extensive election observation experience in countries like Zimbabwe, Liberia, and Ghana. The chamber unanimously resolved to prioritize the welfare of all affected Nigerians, reflecting bipartisan concern for the Niger Delta icon whose leadership once championed regional development through initiatives like the Amnesty Programme.
Diplomatic efforts bore fruit later that day. Military personnel from the junta escorted Jonathan and his team to a private airstrip, facilitating their departure on a chartered flight. Ebienfa stated: “Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is very safe and out of Guinea-Bissau. He left on a special flight with members of his delegation.” X posts from verified accounts, including @thecableng and @BashirAhmaad, echoed the relief, with users praising the quick response while decrying the coup’s threat to West African democracy.
In a joint statement from Bissau, Jonathan and fellow observers condemned the takeover as a “blatant attempt to disrupt the democratic process,” calling on ECOWAS and the AU to intervene, release detainees, and restore constitutional order. They urged Guinea-Bissau’s citizens to remain calm, reaffirming commitment to regional stability. The incident underscores Guinea-Bissau’s fragility, exacerbated by narcotics trafficking and ethnic tensions, but also highlights Jonathan’s enduring role in fostering peace across the subregion—a legacy rooted in his Niger Delta origins, where he rose from humble beginnings to advocate for resource equity.
Back in Nigeria, the evacuation has been hailed as a diplomatic win, with calls for continued monitoring of the crisis. As one X user noted, “We thank God Almighty for his safety.” For the Niger Delta, Jonathan’s safe return is a reminder of his pivotal contributions to regional security and development, even as West Africa’s coup belt raises broader concerns.
