Jonathan to Tinubu: ‘You cannot remove Guinea-Bissau junta by force — ECOWAS must talk to them’

By Kunle Sanni –

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has warned that ECOWAS cannot attempt to forcefully remove the military junta in Guinea-Bissau, saying any such move would lead to bloodshed. Speaking after briefing President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, he urged West African leaders to instead open dialogue with the military commanders.

Jonathan, who was evacuated from the country days earlier, said the junta must immediately release detained opposition candidate Fernando Dias da Costa and allow the official results of the 23 November presidential election to be announced.

He explained that vote tallying was almost concluded before soldiers intervened, insisting that the winner must be declared. “In fact, the results are known, and the key thing is that the winner of the election must be announced,” he said.

Jonathan maintained that Dias da Costa had committed no offence, noting that the candidate never proclaimed himself the winner. “If he had done that, they could claim treason. So there was no reason to arrest him,” he said.

He reiterated that ECOWAS leaders must prioritise dialogue. “They cannot kick out the military with force; otherwise, people will die. ECOWAS leaders must reach out to the military leadership in Guinea-Bissau,” he cautioned.

Expressing frustration over repeated threats to democracy in the region, Jonathan said Africans were tired of coups and politically motivated disruptions to governance.

“We are tired of this in Africa, we are tired. Every day, it is one negative story or another,” he lamented, urging regional leaders to be more assertive in preventing anti-democratic actions.

Jonathan described the Guinea-Bissau crisis as a “ceremonial coup” orchestrated by President Umaro Embaló, rather than a traditional “palace coup,” accusing the head of state of staging the disruption himself.