What Happened in Guinea-Bissau Was A Ceremonial Coup — Jonathan Explains

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has described the recent military intervention in Guinea-Bissau as a “ceremonial coup,” insisting that the disruption of the country’s electoral process was unusual and not a conventional takeover.

Jonathan, who led the West African Elders Forum Election Observation Mission during last Sunday’s presidential and legislative elections, said the polls were peaceful, well-supervised, and that results from all nine regions had been collated and were ready for declaration.

The political crisis unfolded on Monday when incumbent President Umaro Embaló and opposition candidate Fernando Dias each claimed victory before the official results were released. Shortly after, soldiers seized key state institutions, suspended the electoral process, and announced they would administer the country “until further notice.”

Speaking in Abuja after being evacuated from Guinea-Bissau, Jonathan expressed scepticism over Embaló’s account of being arrested, noting that the president was freely communicating with the media during the alleged takeover. “It was not a conventional coup. President Embaló himself announced it, and that is highly unusual,” Jonathan said.

The former Nigerian president warned that halting the electoral process threatens Guinea-Bissau’s democratic stability and urged ECOWAS and the African Union to announce the results to uphold regional democratic integrity. He also called for the immediate release of Fernando Dias, who remains in custody.

Jonathan described the incident as a worrying return to the country’s turbulent past and emphasised that regional bodies must act to ensure transparency and prevent further political instability.