By Charles Pemu 
BISSAU—Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has been successfully evacuated and safely escorted out of Guinea-Bissau, following the sudden military coup that plunged the West African nation into political turmoil.
Jonathan, who was in the capital, Bissau, leading the West African Elders Forum (WAEF) Election Mission to observe the recent polls, was among hundreds of international observers trapped after the military takeover suspended the electoral process and imposed immediate border closures.
While official details regarding the specific means of exit remain limited, a reliable senior government source in Nigeria confirmed on Thursday that intense diplomatic and logistical arrangements were concluded to secure the former President’s safe passage. The source indicated that a multinational task force, supported by Nigerian personnel, was instrumental in ensuring the security of Jonathan and other Nigerian officials caught in the crisis.
The swift action to facilitate the former President’s departure follows growing pressure, including a motion in the Nigerian House of Representatives that urged the Federal Government to deploy all necessary diplomatic resources to ensure the safe return of its nationals.
The coup, executed by officers operating under the name “High Military Command for the Restoration of Order,” saw the deposition of President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and the immediate suspension of all democratic institutions, occurring just as the nation awaited election results.
In response, the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have issued a strong joint condemnation. Both regional bodies unequivocally demanded the immediate restoration of constitutional order and the swift release of all detained political and electoral officials.