Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan disputes the nature of the recent Guinea-Bissau military takeover, calling it a “ceremonial coup” due to the deposed President Embaló’s public announcements during the event.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has dismissed reports of a coup in Guinea-Bissau, calling the event “ceremonial” rather than a real military takeover. Speaking on the situation following the military’s announcement of control on November 27, 2025, Jonathan said, “Because, for two things: it is the president, President Embaló, that announced it. And specifically what happened in Guinea-Bissau, I wouldn’t call it a coup. It was not a coup.
Maybe some people describe it as not quite… for want of a better word, I will say, maybe a ceremonial coup.” Jonathan, who was in Guinea-Bissau as part of a joint AU, ECOWAS, and West African Elders Forum election observer mission, noted that Embaló’s ability to address the media while allegedly being arrested was unusual. He added, “Who is fooling who? Basically, what happened in Guinea-Bissau is quite disturbing to me, who believes in democracy. In fact, I feel more pains than the day I called Buhari to congratulate him when I lost the election.”