By Olufemi Adediran | November 29, 2025

The recent military takeover in Guinea-Bissau has left Goodluck Jonathan describing the event as more painful than his 2015 election loss to Muhammadu Buhari.

Jonathan, who has long supported democratic processes in Guinea-Bissau, said the situation was especially troubling given his personal involvement in stabilizing the country, including overseeing the 2013 elections following a 2012 political crisis.

He was in Guinea-Bissau as part of the West African Elders Forum to observe the presidential and parliamentary elections when the military seized power. Jonathan described the events as unusual, highlighting that President Umaro Embaló announced his own arrest while speaking to international media - a move he called “bizarre” and inconsistent with typical coup practices.

“Having worked personally to strengthen democracy in Guinea-Bissau, seeing the military intervene is more painful than conceding an election in Nigeria,” Jonathan said.

He also called for the release of opposition leader Fernando Dias and urged ECOWAS and the African Union to release full election results. Jonathan was evacuated by an Ivorian aircraft after both Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire arranged for his safe return, with Côte d’Ivoire securing faster clearance due to proximity and regional ties.

Jonathan warned that the coup undermines years of democratic progress and stressed the need for careful management by regional organizations to prevent further instability.