Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has shared new details about the tense hours he and his delegation faced during the recent military takeover in Guinea-Bissau — and how swift intervention from two West African leaders ensured their safe evacuation.
Speaking with journalists, Jonathan revealed that both Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Côte d’Ivoire’s President Alassane Ouattara independently deployed aircraft to extract him and his team once instability broke out in Bissau.
According to him, the Ivorian rescue plane reached the country first. Côte d’Ivoire, being geographically closer to Guinea-Bissau, secured landing clearance more quickly — a development Jonathan attributed to stronger regional air-traffic ties.
With the Ivorian aircraft already on the ground and prepared for departure, Jonathan said the Nigerian team was advised to hold off.
Jonathan expressed deep appreciation to the two presidents for their readiness to act without hesitation, noting that their prompt responses provided critical reassurance as the crisis escalated.
“I’m grateful to President Tinubu and President Ouattara. Both immediately sent planes to evacuate us when the coup began in Guinea-Bissau. Côte d’Ivoire’s aircraft arrived first because of proximity and faster landing approval. Once it was ready, we informed the Nigerian team to stand down,” he explained.
Jonathan had been in Guinea-Bissau as the head of the West African Elders Forum Election Observation Mission, leading a delegation tasked with assessing last Sunday’s presidential and legislative elections. Tension had already been brewing over disputed results when the military moved in and announced that it had seized control.
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In a joint statement delivered alongside other African and regional observer missions, Jonathan strongly condemned the power grab, describing it as a deliberate attempt to derail the democratic process and undermine the will of the people.
