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, GISTSMATE MEDIA 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”.
The announcement came shortly after sustained gunfire was reported near the election commission headquarters, the presidential palace, and the interior ministry in Bissau.
Results from Sunday’s presidential election had been expected on Thursday. The poll featured incumbent President Embaló and challenger Fernando Dias, each insisting they had won.
Meanwhile, the BBC reported on Wednesday that Embaló had been arrested by armed men in the capital, Bissau, deepening fears of instability following last week’s contested presidential election.
His arrest came three days after the vote in which the main opposition candidate was disqualified.
Embaló confirmed to The Africa Report’s sister publication, Jeune Afrique, that he was arrested on Wednesday, November 26, at around 1pm while he was in his office at the presidential palace.
Also taken into custody were the Armed Forces Chief of Staff, General Biaguê Na Ntan; the Deputy Chief of Staff, General Mamadou Touré; and the Interior Minister, Botché Candé.
The outgoing president stated that no force was used against him during what he described as a “coup d’état,” which he said was orchestrated by the army chief of staff.
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