Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan Among VIPs Trapped in Guinea-Bissau After Military Coup — Borders Remain Sealed

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The unfolding military takeover in Guinea-Bissau has taken an even more dramatic turn, with former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan reportedly trapped in the country alongside other VIPs.

Jonathan was in Guinea-Bissau as part of a 36-member election observation mission deployed by ECOWAS, the African Union (AU), and the West Africa Election Forum (WAEF) to monitor Sunday’s controversial presidential election.

Security forces have already closed all borders — land, air, and sea — as the military suspends the constitution, arrests political leaders, and takes control of state institutions. As a result, Jonathan and other foreign observers now find themselves stranded inside the country.

The coup erupted shortly after the distressed electoral process, with troops citing intelligence that alleged plots by politicians and drug barons to subvert the vote and spark nationwide unrest. President Umaro Sissoco Embaló was among those arrested, alongside leading opposition figures and senior government officials, including top generals and cabinet ministers.

Though international bodies such as ECOWAS, AU, and global partners have denounced the coup and called for immediate release of all detainees and safe passage for observers, the border closure continues — raising fresh alarm over the safety of Jonathan and others still in Guinea-Bissau.

As the crisis deepens, all eyes are now on diplomatic efforts aimed at securing safe evacuation for foreign nationals and international observers. For now, Jonathan remains trapped — a high-profile casualty in a coup that has already shaken West Africa.