The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed the safety of former president Goodluck Jonathan, amid Wednesday’s military takeover of Guinea-Bissau.

Mr Jonathan was in the West African country to monitor the country’s presidential and legislative elections, held last Sunday.

Speaking to journalists on Thursday in Abuja, the ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said the former president was safe, and at the time of the address, no longer in Guinea-Bissau.

Mr Ebienfa said, “Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is very safe and out of Guinea-Bissau. He left with a special flight with members of his delegation, including Mohamed Chambas.”

Mr Jonathan was among the 36 eminent observers, representing the joint collaboration of organisations, including the African Union (AU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the West African Elders Forum (WAEF), to observe the election.

Military officers, however, announced a takeover of the country’s political affairs, on Wednesday, immediately ordering the closure of borders and annulment of the ongoing electoral process.

The military’s action followed separate self-made declarations by the ousted president, Umaro Embaló and opposition candidate, Fernando Dias, declaring themselves winners of the poll ahead of official announcement.

Mr Embaló, along with other members of his cabinet, was arrested on Wednesday, following a coup led by Brigadier General Denis N’Canha.

Drawing public attention to the takeover, Mr N’Canha announced that the “High Military Command for the Restoration of Order, composed of all branches of the armed forces, is taking over the leadership of the country until further notice.”

According to reports, the country’s armed forces’ Chief of Staff, General Biaguê Na Ntan; the Deputy Chief of Staff, General Mamadou Touré; including the interior minister, Botché Candé, were arrested by the coup plotters.

Expressing dismay at the development, the federal government on Thursday said the military’s incursion into Guinea-Bissau’s political affairs posed a serious threat to democracy and regional stability.

• Reacting, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa said the coup action “represents a blatant violation of the fundamental principles of the Economic Community of West African States Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, which explicitly reject any ascension to power through unconstitutional means.”