Former President Goodluck Jonathan is among African leaders who are currently trapped in Guinea-Bissau following a coup d’état in the country.
Jonathan is one of the 36 high-profile observers on the joint mission of the African Union (AU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the West African Elders Forum (WAEF) who are in Guinea-Bissau to monitor the presidential election held on Sunday.
On Wednesday, military officers seized control of the government and suspended the country’s electoral process.
The military took over after President Umaro Embaló, who is seeking re-election, and Fernando Dias, his main opponent, declared themselves winners of the presidential election even though the electoral commission had not released official results.
The military also closed all borders and shut down airports.
In a statement after the coup, the joint mission expressed “deep concern” about the military intervention in Guinea-Bissau.
“It’s regrettable that this announcement came at a time when the missions had just concluded meeting with the two leading presidential candidates, who assured us of their willingness to accept the will of the people,” the statement reads.
The observers called on the AU and ECOWAS to take urgent steps to restore constitutional order and demanded the immediate release of all detained officials.
The election observers’ delegation is scheduled to leave Guinea-Bissau on November 29.
