Developing Story: Jonathan, other African Leaders Trapped in Guinea-Bissau as Suspected Palace Coup is Reported

A major political crisis is unfolding in Guinea-Bissau, where former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan and other high-profile African leaders have been trapped in the capital, Bissau, following what appears to be a palace coup announced by the country’s armed forces.

A joint mission of the African Union (AU), ECOWAS, and the West African Elders Forum (WAEF), all in Bissau, confirmed in a dramatic late-night statement that the military had declared a coup d’état just as the nation awaited official results from the November 23 presidential and legislative elections.

The crisis deepened rapidly Wednesday morning leading to
• shutting of all borders by the junta.
• cancellation of flights by Airlines, leaving hundreds stranded.

In addition,
• International observers, diplomats, and mission officials, including AU, ECOWAS, and WAEF delegations, cannot leave the country.
• No official government authority appears to be in control, and the missions report that “nobody is available to talk to.”

Jonathan, who is leading the West African Elders Forum delegation, co-signed the joint statement expressing “deep concern” over the sudden military intervention and the arrests of top electoral officials, including those responsible for overseeing vote collation.

The missions said they had only just concluded meetings with the two leading presidential candidates, both of whom pledged to accept the election outcome, before the military announced the takeover.

The statement condemned the military’s actions as a “blatant attempt to disrupt the democratic process”, calling on the AU and ECOWAS to take urgent steps to restore constitutional order and demanding the immediate release of all detained officials.