Nigeria Rushes Special Forces & Jet to Rescue Former President Goodluck Jonathan Amid Guinea-Bissau’s Military Coup

Nigeria Rushes Special Forces & Jet to Rescue Former President Goodluck Jonathan Amid Guinea-Bissau’s Military Coup

In a region fraught with political volatility, Nigeria has once again demonstrated its diplomatic muscle and commitment to citizen protection. On November 26, 2025, a sudden military coup in Guinea-Bissau plunged the West African nation into chaos, stranding international election observers including former Nigerian President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan. As gunfire echoed through the capital, Bissau, and borders slammed shut, the Nigerian government sprang into action, mobilizing resources to secure Jonathan’s safety and orchestrate his swift evacuation. This episode not only highlights Jonathan’s enduring role in fostering African democracy but also underscores Nigeria’s pivotal influence within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The Chaos in Guinea-Bissau: A Coup on the Eve of Election Results

Guinea-Bissau, a former Portuguese colony with a turbulent post-independence history, has long been synonymous with instability. Since 1974, the country home to about 2 million people and notorious as a cocaine trafficking hub has endured nine coup attempts, four of which succeeded. The latest upheaval erupted on November 26, just hours before the National Electoral Commission (CNE) was set to announce results from the November 23 presidential and legislative elections. Incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, whose term had controversially extended beyond its February 2025 expiration amid legal battles and parliament dissolutions, clashed with opposition leader Fernando Días. Both candidates prematurely declared victory, fueling accusations of fraud and manipulation.

According to the Guardian News

The spark ignited around 1 p.m. local time when heavy gunfire rang out near the Presidential Palace, the CNE headquarters, and the Interior Ministry. Brigadier General Dénis N’Canha, former head of the presidential guard, led a faction of army officers in seizing control. On state television, they proclaimed the formation of the “High Military Command for the Restoration of Order,” suspending the constitution, dissolving state institutions, and imposing a nationwide curfew from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. Borders were sealed, flights grounded at Osvaldo Vieira International Airport, and internet access throttled. President Embaló was arrested in his office without violence, alongside key figures including Army Chief General Biaguê Na Ntan, his deputy General Mamadou Touré, Interior Minister Botché Candé, and opposition stalwarts like former Prime Minister Domingos Simões Pereira. By November 27, Major-General Horta Inta-A (also known as Horta N’Tâm), Embaló’s former Chief of Staff, was sworn in as interim leader for a one-year transition.

The coup’s architects cited “electoral irregularities” and a plot involving politicians, drug lords, and foreign actors as justification, but critics, including civil society groups, labeled it a “simulated” power grab to entrench Embaló’s allies. With no reported casualties, the streets of Bissau remained tense, patrolled by soldiers, as hundreds fled the violence.

International observers, deployed by the African Union (AU), ECOWAS, and the West African Elders Forum (WAEF), had praised the voting process as peaceful despite pre-election hate speech and the barring of the ruling PAIGC party on technical grounds. A joint statement from the missions, signed by Jonathan, former Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi (AU head), and ECOWAS’s Issifu Kamara, condemned the takeover as a “direct attempt to disrupt Guinea-Bissau’s democratic process” and urged the release of detained officials, resumption of vote counting, and calm among citizens.

Jonathan’s Perilous Mission: From Observer to Stranded Statesman

Former President Jonathan, who led Nigeria from 2010 to 2015 and famously conceded defeat in the country’s first democratic transition of power, was in Bissau heading the WAEF component of the observer team. His illustrious career in election monitoring spans continents from Zimbabwe and Liberia to Ghana, Mozambique, Pakistan, Tanzania, and South Africa representing bodies like the Commonwealth and AU. At 68, Jonathan’s presence symbolized Africa’s push for electoral integrity amid rising authoritarianism.

The coup trapped him and dozens of other dignitaries, including former ECOWAS Commission President Mohamed Ibn Chambas. Initial reports sparked national anxiety in Nigeria, with social media ablaze: Posts on X (formerly Twitter) from users like @instablog9ja celebrated his safe landing in Abuja, garnering thousands of views, while @NewsDigestNGR urged continued vigilance for all stranded Nigerians. Family member Robert Azibaola, Jonathan’s cousin, allayed fears early on November 27, telling Vanguard he had spoken with Jonathan “severally” that day: “He has not been able to leave Guinea-Bissau, but he is safe. There is no threat to his life.” (Punch Newspaper)

Nigeria’s Coordinated Response: Diplomacy, Security, and Evacuation

Nigeria’s reaction was immediate and multifaceted, blending condemnation with pragmatic protection. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a scathing statement denouncing the coup as a “grave violation” of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, warning of its threat to regional stability. President Bola Tinubu’s administration, as ECOWAS chair, coordinated with regional partners to safeguard observers.

On the ground, Nigerian personnel embedded in the ECOWAS Stabilization Mission provided immediate military protection for Jonathan amid the unrest. Diplomatic channels were activated relentlessly, engaging the junta for safe passage. As borders remained sealed, the government arranged a special evacuation flight once airspace restrictions eased partially on November 27.

By afternoon, success: Jonathan and his delegation departed Bissau, escorted by military personnel, and touched down at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. Ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa confirmed to journalists: “Jonathan is very safe and out of Guinea-Bissau.” The operation extended to other Nigerians, with calls for their rescue.

Parliament amplified the urgency. During Thursday’s plenary, House Leader Prof. Julius Ihonvbere moved a motion of urgent national importance, hailing Jonathan as a “true democrat” and urging “all diplomatic means” for his return. Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda echoed: “The importance we attach to [Jonathan’s] life should also apply to every other Nigerian.” Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu secured unanimous adoption via voice vote, directing the executive to prioritize citizen welfare abroad.

READ MORE ON : Military Coup in Guinea-Bissau: Army Seizes Power Amid Disputed Elections

Broader Ramifications: A Test for ECOWAS and West African Democracy

This incident arrives amid a coup epidemic in West Africa Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger straining ECOWAS’s zero-tolerance policy and prompting Sahel alliances against it. Guinea-Bissau’s narco-state vulnerabilities could worsen, inviting external meddling. Nigeria’s role reaffirms its leadership, but experts warn of enforcement challenges in a poverty-riddled region (70% below the line).

Jonathan’s safe return is a triumph of vigilance, reminding us of the risks democracy advocates face. As he resumes duties, the focus shifts to mediating Guinea-Bissau’s crisis ensuring ballots triumph over barracks.