Former President Goodluck Jonathan has downplayed the recent military takeover in Guinea-Bissau, describing it as “not a coup” but perhaps a “ceremonial coup,” despite soldiers claiming control of the country earlier this week.
Gunfire broke out around key government institutions in Bissau on Wednesday, with troops declaring they had “total control.”
President Umaro Sissoco Embaló later said he was arrested in his office, triggering panic, a curfew, border closures, and the detention of senior government, military, and interior ministry officials.
Nigeria’s Federal Government condemned the development, calling it a “serious threat to democracy and regional stability.”
It also confirmed that Jonathan, who was in Guinea-Bissau leading the West African Elders Forum Election Observation Mission, had been safely evacuated with his team on a special flight.
Speaking in an interview with Symfoni published on YouTube on Friday, Jonathan said he felt compelled to address the public both to express gratitude for the concern shown by Nigerians and to clarify the events.
“You know, since I left office, I’ve always been scared of talking to the media. But in this particular case, I decided to speak… first and foremost, to thank Nigerians for the show of empathy,” he said.
Jonathan noted that the situation was unusual because President Embaló himself announced his own arrest before the military made any public statement.
“I wouldn’t call it a coup. It was not a coup. Maybe, for lack of a better word, it was a ceremonial coup,” he said.
“It is strange that it was the president who first announced the coup. Not only that, he was using his phone during the so-called coup to talk to media houses around the world, saying he had been arrested.”
He contrasted the scenario with past coups in the region, saying real coups never allow an ousted president to speak freely to the press.
“I’ve seen coups. I mediated in Mali during a coup. In a real coup, the military does not take over while the sitting president sits comfortably addressing press conferences. Who is fooling whom?” he asked.
Jonathan called on ECOWAS and the African Union to ensure the immediate release of election results from Guinea-Bissau, insisting that the military must not interfere in democratic processes.
“What happened in Guinea-Bissau is disturbing for someone who believes in democracy,” he said.
“The results are already known because AU and ECOWAS officials monitored the collation. They should tally the results and announce them. They cannot force the military out, but they must announce who won.”
He recalled his experience overseeing the disputed 2010 election in Côte d’Ivoire as Chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State, saying election outcomes must be honoured.
“In Côte d’Ivoire, Laurent Gbagbo was the sitting president. After the first round, he led, but not with the required 50% plus one. In the second round, other candidates supported Ouattara, who then won.”
“Gbagbo refused to concede, but the observers all said Ouattara won. And we in ECOWAS insisted he must be sworn in. As chair, I stood my ground, and Ouattara became president,” Jonathan said.
