JUST IN: Jonathan Stranded in Guinea-Bissau as Military Seizes Power

A tense evening unfolded in Guinea-Bissau on Wednesday as Goodluck Jonathan, in the country as head of the West African Elders Forum observer mission, became stranded following a sudden military takeover. Jonathan and hundreds of international observers were unable to leave after soldiers shut all borders and halted the electoral process just as official results were expected.

Foreign observers who rushed to the airport after the coup announcement found themselves stuck as troops declared they had seized “total control” of the state. The move came a day after both President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and rival candidate Fernando Dias claimed victory in the closely fought election.

The group leading the takeover, calling itself the High Military Command for the Restoration of Order, suspended the vote “until further notice,” imposed an overnight curfew, and ordered the shutdown of land, air and sea borders. Embaló later told France24 by phone that he had been deposed and was being held at the military headquarters. Opposition leader Domingos Simões Pereira was also arrested, and reports indicated attempts to cut access to the internet.

Denis N’Canha, the officer leading the uprising and former head of the presidential guard, was identified as the figure now holding Embaló. Commentators noted the irony that the soldier tasked with protecting the president had placed him under arrest.

Jonathan had arrived days earlier and shared updates on his mission’s activities, including meetings, condolence visits and polling-station monitoring. His communications stopped on Tuesday. Efforts to reach his spokesman were unsuccessful, but Ima Niboro, a former aide, confirmed that Jonathan was still in the country when the coup began and had personally assured him that he was safe.

In a joint statement issued alongside other African leaders present in Bissau, Jonathan condemned the military intervention and described it as a grave interruption of the democratic process. The group urged the African Union and ECOWAS to act swiftly to restore constitutional order, expressed concern over arrests of key electoral officials and called for their immediate release. They appealed to citizens to remain calm and reiterated their commitment to supporting Guinea-Bissau’s peace and democratic stability during the crisis.