Former Nigerian President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has dismissed widespread reports claiming Guinea-Bissau recently experienced a military coup.
Jonathan made the revelation in a trending video shortly after returning to Nigeria from the West African country.
‘Embalo Announced the Coup First’
According to him, the drama in Guinea-Bissau did not follow the pattern of a real military takeover.
He said President Umaro Embalo was the first person to call media houses and declare there was a coup, even before the soldiers made any public statement.
Military Took Over After Embalo’s Announcement
Jonathan explained that it was only after Embalo’s announcement that the military came out to say they had taken control of the country.
He found this sequence strange and unlike any known coup process in Africa.
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 didn’t 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.”
‘Where Does This Happen?’ – Jonathan Questions the Narrative
Jonathan noted that he has witnessed real coup situations, including his time 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?”
See below;
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