Guinea-Bissau Coup: Jonathan returns to Nigeria

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has returned to Abuja after being trapped in Guinea-Bissau following Tuesday’s military coup.

Jonathan arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Thursday afternoon, marking the end of a tense 48-hour period during which he was stuck after soldiers halted the nation’s electoral process and sealed its borders.

NRTC reported that the former president was trapped in Guinea-Bissau while serving on a joint observer mission organized by the African Union (AU), ECOWAS, and the West African Elders Forum.

The delegation had been deployed to observe Guinea-Bissau’s presidential and legislative elections held over the weekend.

Brigadier General Dennis N’canha, head of the presidential military office, announced the takeover during a press briefing in Bissau.

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  N’canha stated that a command “composed of all the armed forces” was taking control of the country until further notice.
  
  His return followed urgent diplomatic consultations initiated by Nigerian authorities and regional partners after N’Canha announced that the armed forces had seized power and suspended the electoral process.
  
  Jonathan’s safe return is expected to ease concerns raised by the House of Representatives, which earlier called for swift intervention to secure his release and protect other officials caught in the unrest.
  
  Regional organisations are now monitoring the situation in Guinea-Bissau as efforts continue to restore constitutional order following the seizure of power.