Federal Government of Nigeria says former President Goodluck Jonathan has been evacuated from Guinea Bissau.
Jonathan, who led an election observer delegation to the West African nation, was trapped in the country after the military staged a coup and announced “total takeover” of government.
Official results of the election were about to be declared when the military struck.
Consequently, Jonathan and many foreign observers could not leave the country as the military shut down the airport and land borders.
House of Representatives had urged the Federal Government to ensure the safe return of the former president.
Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, in a statement on Thursday, said Jonathan had left Guinea-Bissau on a special flight alongside members of his delegation.
“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.
On Wednesday in a joint statement, former president of Mozambique and Head of the African Union Election Observation Mission, Filipe Nyusi; Issifu Kamara, Head of the Economic Community of West African States Election Observation Mission; and Jonathan condemned the coup, describing it as a direct attempt to disrupt Guinea-Bissau’s democratic process.
They appealed for calm among residents and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Guinea-Bissau “during this sensitive period.”
They stressed “the importance of preserving peace, stability, and the well-being of the Bissau-Guinean people.”
