Former President Goodluck Jonathan has been safely moved out of Guinea-Bissau by soldiers as political tensions in the West African country spiral into a full-blown crisis.
Jonathan was in the country as part of a joint election observer mission of the African Union, ECOWAS, and the West African Elders Forum when unrest erupted in the capital. He was immediately placed under heavy security escort as the situation deteriorated.
The fresh chaos followed a dramatic power struggle after both incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and opposition candidate Fernando Dias declared themselves winners of Sunday’s presidential election, even though official results had not yet been released.
By Wednesday night, soldiers announced a suspension of the entire electoral process, shut down all borders:;air, land, sea and imposed a nationwide curfew.
The tension drew concern in Nigeria, where the House of Representatives on Thursday urged the Federal Government to activate diplomatic channels to secure Jonathan’s safe return, along with other Nigerians trapped in the country.
Reports indicated that military officers had taken “total control” of key Government areas after heavy gunfire rang out around the election commission’s headquarters and the presidential palace.
Election results were expected on Thursday, but the escalating violence abruptly halted the process.
The BBC also reported that President Embaló was arrested by armed men in Bissau three days after the vote, in what has now been described as a military coup.
Embaló later told Jeune Afrique that he was arrested in his office on November 26 and accused the Army Chief of Staff of masterminding the takeover.
Top officials, including Armed Forces Chief General Biaguê Na Ntan, his deputy General Mamadou Touré, and Interior Minister Botché Candé, were also detained as the crisis deepened.