Jonathan Describes Guinea Bissau Turmoil as ‘Ceremonial Coup’
Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has offered an unusual characterisation of the recent political upheaval in Guinea Bissau, describing the events as a “ceremonial coup” rather than a classic overthrow. His remarks, delivered with an air of cautious reflection, have added a fresh twist to a political drama that has kept the region on edge. Jonathan, who has been involved in several mediation efforts across West Africa, explained that the unfolding scenario in Bissau did not fit the familiar mode of a military seizure of power. His sounded as someone accustomed to the turbulence of regional politics, yet even he seemed struck by the peculiarity of the episode. “I wouldn’t call it a coup. It was not a coup. I would just say, for want of a better word, maybe it was a ceremonial coup,” Jonathan said, sketching the phrase as if searching for the least provocative terminology. He pointed to what he described as two deeply unusual elements. “It is the president, President Embaló, who announced the coup. Later, the military men came up to address the world that they were in charge of everywhere,” he explained, letting the oddity linger like a puzzle awaiting interpretation. Jonathan noted that the events became even stranger as the situation unfolded. “Then Embaló had already announced the coup, which is strange. Not only announcing the coup, but Embaló, while the coup took place, was using his phone and addressing media organizations across the world that he had been arrested,” he said, sounding as one in disbelief and careful scrutiny. His comments come as the West African region continues to grapple with repeated political disruptions, each one carrying its own signature of confusion and tension. The Guinea Bissau episode, painted through Jonathan’s lens, reads almost like a political play performed out of order, leaving observers unsure whether to brace for escalation or to view the drama as a symbolic power struggle rather than a genuine rupture. The region now waits to see how the dust settles, with the lingering question of whether this “ceremonial coup” will have lasting implications or fade into the tapestry of West Africa’s unpredictable political landscape.
| 2025-11-30 09:49:31