Nigeria’s former President, Goodluck Jonathan, has alleged that President Umaro Embaló staged the army coup in Guinea-Bissau to keep away from shedding a presidential election.
Mr Jonathan mentioned the army takeover was a “ceremonial coup” and demanded that the election outcomes be introduced.
The previous president led the West African Elders Discussion board Election Commentary Mission to observe Guinea-Bissau’s presidential and legislative elections held final Sunday.
He returned to Nigeria on Thursday after being evacuated from Guinea-Bissau following a army takeover.
Talking to journalists on Friday, he mentioned he wouldn’t categorise the incident within the nation as a standard coup, alleging that the occasion was staged to derail the announcement of the election outcomes.
He said that no army chief would enable the ousted president to speak with the media whereas being held in custody.
Mr Jonathan famous that President Umaro Embaló’s swift declaration that he had been “arrested,” regardless of freely chatting with worldwide media on his cellphone, forged doubt on the plausibility of the declare.
“What occurred in Guinea-Bissau is sort of disturbing to me, an individual who believes in democracy. In truth, I really feel extra ache than the day I known as Buhari to congratulate him once I misplaced the election as a sitting president.
“It’s painful for me that President Embaló was the one saying a army takeover of the federal government. It’s completely unacceptable,” Mr Jonathan mentioned.
“What occurred in Guinea-Bissau, I’d not name it a coup; it was not a coup. For lack of a greater phrase, I’ll say it was a ceremonial coup as a result of it was President Embaló who introduced the coup earlier than the army later got here as much as tackle the world that they have been in control of the federal government.
“Embaló had already introduced that there was a coup, which is unusual. Not solely saying the coup, however Embaló, whereas the coup passed off, was utilizing his cellphone and addressing media organisations internationally that he had been arrested. I’m a Nigerian near 70, and I understand how they maintain Heads of State when a coup takes place.
“They can’t be enjoying pranks; no person ought to name others fools. There is no such thing as a approach there might be a army coup at a time after they have been about to announce election outcomes, and the president was the one that introduced the coup. It doesn’t occur wherever,” Mr Jonathan added.
The coup occurred a day earlier than the Guinea-Bissau electoral fee was to announce the winner of the presidential election performed on Sunday.
The election pitted Mr Embalo, candidate of the Madem‑G15 get together, in opposition to main opposition candidate Fernando Dias, candidate of the Get together for Social Renewal (PRS).
Mr Embalo, whose time period formally led to February, sought to be the primary president in 30 years to safe a second consecutive time period.
“I might be a candidate for my very own succession,” Mr Embalo informed reporters in March.
Shortly after the coup, Mr Embalo recounted to Jeune Afrique, a French-language weekly journal, that troopers detained him in his workplace on the presidential palace at round 1 p.m.
He mentioned they acted with out violence and tagged the incident a coup.
On Thursday, Mr Embalo’s Chief of Military Workers, Horta Inta-A, assumed energy because the transitional President.
Mr Inta-A was thought of near the president, who then fled to Senegal.
The newly sworn-in Armed Forces Chief of Workers, Tomas Djassi, can be thought of to be Mr Embaló’s ally.
In the meantime, the Senegalese Prime Minister
Ousmane Sonko additionally described the coup as a sham.
Reuters reported that he demanded the continuation of the electoral course of and, like Mr Jonathan, demanded the announcement of the outcomes of the election.
“What occurred in Guinea-Bissau was a sham. We wish the electoral course of to proceed. The (electoral) fee should be capable to declare the winner,” he was quoted to have mentioned.
Additionally, the coalition supporting the primary rival, Mr Dias, condemned the takeover, calling it a last-minute bid by Mr Embaló and his allies to cease the announcement of outcomes.
They argued that the declaration of the election outcomes would have confirmed his defeat.
UN condemns coup
The United Nations Secretary-Normal, António Guterres, has condemned the coup in Guinea-Bissau.
Mr Guterres described the coup as an outright disregard of the “will of the folks” who got here out to vote for his or her management of selection just some days earlier than the coup.
In a post on X, Mr Guterres mentioned he was deeply involved by the unfolding occasions within the West African nation.
Mr Guterres known as the flip of occasions within the nation an unacceptable violation of democratic ideas.
“I strongly condemned the coup d’état perpetrated by parts of the army & any try to violate constitutional order.
“Any disregard of the need of the individuals who peacefully forged their vote through the 23 November basic elections constitutes an unacceptable violation of democratic ideas.
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“I reaffirm the complete assist of the @UN for safeguarding democracy, selling stability, and aiding Guinea-Bissau in concluding the electoral course of peacefully and swiftly returning to its democratic path,” he mentioned.
He additionally demanded a right away restoration of constitutional order alongside the discharge of all detained officers.
The coup has additionally drawn criticism from a number of governments and regional blocs throughout West Africa.
On Friday, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) suspended Guinea-Bissau from its decision-making our bodies. The African Union additionally did the identical.
The AU determined “to droop Guinea-Bissau from its our bodies with speedy impact,” the chairman, Mahamoud Youssouf, had mentioned.
The Nigerian authorities mentioned the coup undermined the regional commitments member states have made to constitutional rule and political stability.
Ghana additionally considered the “growth with profound concern” and expressed “deep dissatisfaction on the brazen try to overturn the need of the folks of Guinea-Bissau.”
