Guinea‑Bissau Coup: Goodluck Jonathan returns home as AU, ECOWAS condemn takeover
Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has safely returned to Nigeria after being evacuated from Guinea‑Bissau, where a sudden military coup has suspended the ongoing electoral process and plunged the country into political turmoil.
Background: What happened in Guinea‑Bissau
On 26 November 2025, soldiers in Guinea‑Bissau declared they had seized “total control” of the state. The military arrested incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and other senior officials, while suspending the country’s presidential and legislative elections, which had taken place days earlier.
Soon after, the military installed Horta Inta‑A Na Man, an army general and former head of the presidential guard, as the transitional leader of Guinea‑Bissau for a one‑year period.
Observers decry disruption; Elections aborted
Jonathan had been in Guinea‑Bissau as head of a joint election observation mission, representing African Union (AU), ECOWAS, and the West African Elders Forum (WAEF), following presidential and legislative elections held on 23 November 2025.
In a joint statement, the heads of the observer missions, including Jonathan, condemned the coup, lamenting what they described as a “blatant attempt to derail the democratic process.” They called for the immediate release of those detained and for constitutional order to be restored.
Nigeria and regional stance: condemnation, evacuation, diplomacy
In response, the government of Nigeria formally condemned the takeover, calling it an unconstitutional change of government and a threat to regional stability.
A diplomatic effort was immediately launched to ensure Jonathan’s safe return, culminating in his evacuation and arrival back in Abuja on 27 November 2025.
Meanwhile, the leadership of ECOWAS convened an emergency virtual summit, joined by Bola Tinubu and other West African heads of state, to discuss the crisis and assess next steps.
What the coup means for Guinea‑Bissau and West Africa
Political analysts warn that the coup represents yet another setback for democratic governance in a country that has experienced repeated military interventions since independence.
By suspending the election results and invalidating the will of voters, the coup undermines efforts at national reconciliation and fuels uncertainty. Regional stability, already fragile amidst recurring coups in West Africa, faces a renewed test.
The AU has also issued an official condemnation, urging respect for constitutional order, the unconditional release of detained officials and reinstatement of the legitimate electoral process.