Former Nigerian President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has dismissed widespread reports claiming Guinea-Bissau recently experienced a military coup, insisting that the situation was misrepresented and misunderstood by the public and the media.
Jonathan made the revelation in a trending video [/b]shortly after returning to Nigeria from the West African country, where he had been involved in high-level engagements regarding the political situation.
According to him, while the events appeared dramatic, they did not fit the description or structure of a traditional military takeover as known in African politics.
‘Embalo Announced the Coup First’
According to him, the drama in Guinea-Bissau did not follow the pattern of a real military takeover.
Jonathan revealed that President Umaro Embalo himself contacted international media outlets and declared that a coup was taking place even before the military made any official move or public announcement.
He described this as strange and inconsistent with how coups usually unfold in Africa, where soldiers typically seize communication channels and issue their own statements immediately.
Military Took Over After Embalo’s Announcement
Jonathan explained that it was only after Embalo’s announcement that the military later stepped forward to say they had taken control of the country.
This sequence, he said, was highly unusual and raised serious doubts about the legitimacy of the coup claim being circulated in the media.
He added that in genuine military coups, leaders are usually detained swiftly without the freedom to notify newspapers, television stations, or international organizations.
Jonathan Shares Why He Doubts the Coup Claim
He stressed that he understood how soldiers treat sitting leaders during coups and that Embalo’s experience did not match that reality.
In his words: “What happened in Guinea-Bissau, I wouldn’t call it a coup. It was not a coup. For want of a better word, I will say it was a ceremonial coup. For two things, first. It was President Umaro Embalo who announced the coup before a military man came up to address the world that they are in charge. Embalo has already announced the coup, which is strange.”
He added: “Not only announcing the coup, but Embalo, while the coup took place, was using his phone and addressing media organisations across the world that he had been arrested.”
Jonathan expressed disbelief that a detained president could freely speak to foreign press if the takeover were real, insisting that such freedom contradicts every known example of a legitimate coup.
‘Where Does This Happen?’ – Jonathan Questions the Narrative
Jonathan noted that he has personally witnessed real coup situations, including during his role as an ECOWAS mediator in Mali.
He said: “I’m a Nigerian close to 70, and I know how they keep heads of state when a coup takes place. Recently, I was an ECOWAS mediator in Mali, and within that period, we had a military coup. The military doesn’t take over the government, and the sitting President that they overthrow will be allowed to be addressing press conferences and announcing that he has been arrested. Where does this thing happen? Who is fooling whom?”
He further added that the situation in Guinea-Bissau seemed to be more of a political drama than a forceful takeover, urging the international community to properly verify reports before concluding that democracy was under attack.
Jonathan appealed for calm in the region and advised leaders to avoid misinformation that could destabilize already fragile political climates.
The former president concluded by emphasizing that accuracy in reporting political crises is crucial, as false narratives could spark unrest, diplomatic breakdowns, and unnecessary fear among citizens.
What happened in Guinea Bissau wasn't a coup. The President (Umaro Embalo) was the one who announced the coup. While the coup took place, the president was the one calling media organisations to say there was a coup. I'm a Nigerian, and I know how heads of states are treated when… https://t.co/QSs0tRcGwu pic.twitter.com/3E9OGiOkUG
— Nigerian Affairs Journal (@NigAffairs) November 28, 2025