Nigeria’s former president, Goodluck Jonathan is currently trapped in Guinea-Bissau after Wednesday’s coup by the West African nation’s military.
It was gathered that Jonathan is in Guinea-Bissau as part of the team of 36 high-profile observers on the joint mission of the African Union (AU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the West African Elders Forum (WAEF) to monitor the presidential election held on Sunday.
He is trapped in the country alongside other African leaders, including the former President of Mozambique, Filipe Jacinto Nyusi.
While the military takeover has brought a lot of attention to the country, with flights in and out of Guinea-Bissau suspended, Jonathan and the other leaders are said to be safe in their hotel rooms as of Wednesday night, with authorities offering no exit plans.
Sources also stated that Jonathan alongside other observers were expected to leave Guinea-Bissau on Wednesday night or Thursday early morning but are currently stranded due to the situation on the ground.
Recall that a group of military officers had announced that they had seized power in a coup shortly before the planned announcement of the presidential election in Guinea-Bissau.
The spokesperson for the military team, Diniz N’Tchama, during a television broadcast said they had deposed President Umaro Sissoco Embalo of his powers and suspended the electoral process.
They also announced the closure of borders and the enforcement of a curfew across the country.
Confirming the incident, President Embalo told France 24 TV: “I have been deposed”, while the military officers now in charge of the nation said, they had formed “The High Military Command for the Restoration of Order”.
The officers also said that they would be in charge of Guinea-Bissau until further notice.
