Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has safely returned to Nigeria after being evacuated from Guinea-Bissau, where political unrest followed a military coup earlier this week. Jonathan, who had been in the West African country as part of a joint election observer mission led by the African Union (AU), ECOWAS, and the West African Elders Forum (WAEF), was placed under military protection as tensions escalated following a disputed presidential election.
On Thursday afternoon, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed Jonathan’s safe arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, following his departure from Guinea-Bissau. The spokesperson for the Ministry, Kimiebi Ebienfa, assured the public that Jonathan was “very safe and out of Guinea-Bissau.”
The chaos in Guinea-Bissau erupted after both the incumbent president, Umaro Sissoco Embaló, and opposition candidate Fernando Dias claimed victory in Sunday’s election, even before official results were announced. This led to a military takeover on Wednesday, as soldiers suspended the electoral process, closed borders, and imposed a nationwide curfew. In the wake of the coup, Jonathan was escorted out of the country by military personnel for his safety.
The Nigerian House of Representatives had earlier called on the federal government to take all necessary diplomatic steps to ensure Jonathan’s safe return. The lawmakers also urged the government to assist in the evacuation of other Nigerians who were stranded in Guinea-Bissau due to the political crisis.
Amid the ongoing turmoil, Guinea-Bissau’s capital, Bissau, was rocked by gunfire near key government buildings, including the election commission and presidential palace. The political instability deepened with reports that President Embaló had been arrested by armed men on Wednesday, further fueling fears of a prolonged crisis in the country.
Jonathan’s evacuation comes as the military coup adds to the growing instability in Guinea-Bissau, which has experienced several similar uprisings in recent years. His departure marks a dramatic shift in the country’s fragile political landscape.
What measures should be taken to prevent further political instability in Guinea-Bissau and other parts of West Africa?
#WestAfricanPolitics #GoodluckJonathan #GuineaBissauCrisis
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