Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has publicly challenged the narrative of a military coup in Guinea-Bissau, labelling the event a “ceremonial coup” and calling on regional bodies to immediately announce the results of the previous Sunday’s disputed elections.
Jonathan’s remarks, made to journalists in Abuja on Friday, 28th November, followed a turbulent week in the West African nation that saw soldiers taking over control of key institutions, while suspending the electoral process after both incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and his main challenger, Fernando Dias, claimed victory.
“Specifically, what happened in Guinea-Bissau was not a coup; maybe, for want of a better word, I would say it was a ceremonial coup,” Jonathan stated, expressing deep skepticism about the event’s authenticity.
The former president, who led the West African Elders Forum Election Observation Mission to monitor the polls, pointed to President Embaló’s behaviour as evidence. He noted that Embaló was able to freely use his phone to contact international media and announce his own arrest while the alleged coup was unfolding.
“I’m a Nigerian, and I know how heads of state are treated when there’s a coup,” said Jonathan, alluding to his own experience conceding power in 2015. “Not only announcing the coup, but Embaló, while the coup took place, was using his phone and addressing media organisations across the world that he had been arrested. Who is fooling who?”
A Call for Democratic Integrity
With the official electoral process halted, Jonathan issued a direct charge to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU), insisting they have a responsibility to publish the collated results.
He affirmed that the election was “peaceful, well conducted, and properly supervised,” with the results from all nine regions being compiled as well as ready for declaration when the crisis began.
“They have the results because AU and ECOWAS officials were at all the regions when the results were collated. They cannot change those results,” Jonathan asserted. “They must announce, let the world know who won that election. And they owe the world that responsibility.”
Jonathan further described the suspension of the electoral process as a dangerous return to the country’s “dark days” of political instability between 2011 and 2014.
He also expressed particular disappointment in President Embaló, a former ECOWAS chair and retired senior military officer, for his role in the incident.
“He should be the person that can prevent any coup in Guinea-Bissau. I don’t expect a coup that would remove him from office,” Jonathan remarked.
The former president concluded by demanding the immediate release of opposition candidate Fernando Dias, who remains in military custody, emphasising that Dias has “not committed any offence.”
The situation in Guinea-Bissau remains tense as regional bodies grapple with a political crisis that, according to a key regional elder, may not be the conventional coup it first appeared to be.