Former President Goodluck Jonathan has detailed his evacuation from Guinea-Bissau amid political unrest, revealing that he returned to Nigeria on an Ivorian aircraft after both Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire offered rescue jets. He described the incident as a possible staged coup and thanked leaders for their support. Jonathan was in the country leading an election observation mission.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan was in Guinea-Bissau as head of the West African Elders Forum Election Observation Mission when gunfire erupted around key government institutions on November 28, 2025, prompting reports of a possible coup. In his first public comments since the incident, Jonathan gave an interview posted on YouTube by Symfoni, explaining the circumstances of his return to Nigeria.
Jonathan noted the widespread concern in Nigeria, stating, “While we were in Bissau and this so-called coup happened, the information we got was that the whole country was agitated, young and old, irrespective of religious or political divides.” He dismissed the military intervention, suggesting it was staged, and called for the announcement of the Sunday election results.
Both President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria and President Alassane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire arranged aircraft to evacuate Jonathan and his delegation. However, the Ivorian team secured a landing permit first due to closer regional ties between Francophone and Lusophone countries. “Both presidents were to send aircraft to lift us, but somehow you know Côte d’Ivoire is closer to Guinea-Bissau, and there’s always some relationship between the Francophone countries and the Lusophones, who are among the Francophones. They were able to penetrate their system to get a landing permit before Nigeria could do that. So the Ivorian aircraft was already on its way to pick us up,” Jonathan said.
By the time Nigeria's jet received approval, the Ivorian aircraft was en route, so they proceeded with the Ivorian option. “So when we learnt that the Nigerian aircraft were about leaving, we asked them not to bother. That is why, if you see the pictures, I was brought by an Ivorian aircraft,” he added.
Jonathan expressed gratitude to both presidents and Nigerians for their empathy during the unrest following the botched elections.
