Former Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, is currently stranded in Guinea-Bissau after the country’s military suddenly announced a takeover on Wednesday.
Jonathan had travelled to Bissau as part of an international observer mission to monitor the country’s general elections.
What was meant to be a routine election monitoring trip quickly turned into a tense and unexpected situation as the political atmosphere changed dramatically.
Reports indicate that Jonathan is stuck alongside hundreds of other foreign observers, journalists, diplomats, and visitors who also arrived for the elections.
Immediately after news of the coup broke, many people rushed to the airport, hoping to catch the last available flights out of the country.
However, their hopes were dashed when they discovered that all flights had been cancelled and borders had been sealed. Roads leading out of the capital were also blocked, leaving travellers with no way to leave.
The unfolding crisis began after both leading presidential candidates incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and opposition candidate Fernando Dias claimed victory barely a day after voting ended.
This unusual situation created confusion and raised questions about the integrity of the election results.
Tensions began to rise as supporters of both candidates celebrated, while others worried about possible unrest.
Amid this growing uncertainty, a group of senior military officers appeared on national television to announce that they had taken “total control” of the government.
Introducing themselves as the “High Military Command for the Restoration of Order,” the officers said they were suspending the entire electoral process until further notice.
They justified their action by saying they needed to “protect the nation” from chaos and instability.
In addition to halting the election, the military shut down all land, air, and sea borders, preventing anyone from entering or leaving the country.
They also declared an overnight curfew, ordering citizens to remain indoors during the night to avoid what they described as “security risks.”
The sudden shutdown has left many foreigners feeling anxious about their safety, especially with communication limited and movement heavily restricted.
Jonathan and other stranded observers have been advised to remain calm and stay in secure locations while waiting for clearer instructions from both the military authorities and their home countries.
For now, the international community is closely monitoring the situation, and efforts may soon be made to negotiate safe passage out of Guinea-Bissau.
Until then, Jonathan and many others remain in an uncertain and tense environment, hoping for a peaceful resolution to the political crisis.
