Former President Goodluck Jonathan and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar have condemned an attempted coup in the northern Amhara region of Ethiopia on Sunday.
The failed coup against Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government was said to have led to the death of the Chief of Staff of the Ethiopian army, Gen. Seare Mekonnen, who was shot by his own bodyguard in Addis Ababa, the country’s capital.
The Regional Governor of Amhara, Ambachew Mekonnen, was also reportedly killed alongside his adviser.
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Reacting to the incident, former President Jonathan said, “Nobody’s political ambition is worth the blood of citizens in Ethiopia or any other nation.”
The former president who reacted via his Twitter handle, said: “I have long said, believed and practised the principle that nobody’s political ambition is worth the blood of any citizen.
“As such, it bleeds my heart when there is unnecessary and avoidable bloodshed as has just happened in Ethiopia. I condemn the attempted coup against the democratically elected government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
“I go further to call on men and women of goodwill around the world to also condemn such anti-democratic actions and show solidarity to the democratically elected constitutional order in Ethiopia.
“Democracy has come to rest in Africa. Constitutionality and the rule of law are what we in Africa need, especially in the cradle of civilisation and the melting point of the African Union.
“Africa hopes for a speedy return to normalcy and I stand ready to lend my voice and actions to make that possible. May God bless Africa and may He be with the government and people of Ethiopia at such a trying time,” said Jonathan.
On his part, Atiku said “democracy has come to stay in Africa,” noting that the attempted coup was condemnable.
“The coup attempt against the democratically elected government of Office of the Prime Minister-Ethiopia stands condemned. Democracy has come to stay in Africa and we must accept this wind of change from the Cape to the desert.
“As a democrat, my right hand of fellowship is offered to the people of Ethiopia. You are not alone. Long live democracy in Africa,” the former Vice President said in a Facebook post.