Jonathan’s ceremonial coup claim fuels debate after chaos in Guinea-Bissau as he questions the nature of the military takeover

According to former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan, the ceremonial coup claim he made about recent unrest in Guinea-Bissau reflects what he described as a baffling sequence of events rather than a genuine military takeover.

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Jonathan, who was in the country as head of the West African Elders Forum Election Observation Mission, insisted that what unfolded could not be considered a traditional coup.

Gunfire broke out across Bissau on Wednesday as soldiers declared they had seized full control of state institutions. President Umaro Sissoco Embaló later said he had been arrested in his office, prompting a curfew, border closures and the detention of senior officials.

Nigeria condemned the events as a grave threat to democratic stability and confirmed Jonathan’s safe evacuation by a special flight.

In an interview posted on Friday, Jonathan explained that he broke his usual reluctance to speak to the media in order to thank Nigerians for their concern and to clarify the situation.

He said it was unusual that Embaló himself announced his own arrest before the military issued any formal statement, leading Jonathan to call the situation “maybe a ceremonial coup”.

He questioned the logic of a president publicly addressing global media outlets from his mobile phone while supposedly detained.

Drawing on his experience mediating crises in Mali and elsewhere, Jonathan argued that no genuine junta allows a sitting leader to freely communicate during a power grab.

The Ceremonial Coup Claim underscored his wider concern about election management in West Africa. Jonathan urged ECOWAS and the African Union to ensure that results from Guinea-Bissau’s recent polls are promptly tallied and announced, insisting that the military must not interfere with democratic processes.

Reflecting on past elections in Côte d’Ivoire, he recalled standing firm when international observers declared Alassane Ouattara the winner over incumbent Laurent Gbagbo in 2010.

He said that democracy can only function when electoral outcomes are respected, regardless of political stature or personal claims to victory.

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Jonathan maintained that the situation in Guinea-Bissau remains disturbing and emphasised that transparency is essential if the region hopes to prevent further political upheaval.