Chief of the High Command

{{Short description|De facto head of state and government of Guinea-Bissau}} {{Infobox official post | post = Chief of the High Command | type = '''''De facto'' leader:'''<ref>{{cite web | title=Guinea-Bissau - Politics | url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/africa/gnb-ncanha.htm }}</ref> Head of state (''de facto'') Head of government (''de facto'')<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/11/27/guinea-bissau-coup-what-happened-why-it-matters-what-happens-next|title=Guinea-Bissau coup: What happened, why it matters, what happens next?|first=Shola|last=Lawal|website=Al Jazeera}}</ref><ref>https://www.africanews.com/2025/11/27/guinea-bissau-soldiers-announce-gen-horta-nta-as-junta-leader/</ref><ref>https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20251127-general-horta-nta-sworn-in-as-guinea-bissau-transitional-leader-following-coup</ref> | incumbent = Horta Inta-A Na Man | incumbentsince = 27 November 2025 | formation = 26 November 2025 | first = Dinis Incanha | appointer = High Military Command for the Restoration of National Security and Public Order<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.africanews.com/2025/11/27/guinea-bissau-soldiers-announce-gen-horta-nta-as-junta-leader/ |title=Guinea-Bissau soldiers announce Gen. Horta N'Ta as junta leader |work=Africanews |date=27 November 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20251127-general-horta-nta-sworn-in-as-guinea-bissau-transitional-leader-following-coup|title=General Horta N'Tam sworn in as Guinea-Bissau transitional leader following coup|work=France 24|date=27 November 2025}}</ref> | member_of = High Military Command for the Restoration of National Security and Public Order | termlength = One year<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.africanews.com/2025/11/27/guinea-bissau-soldiers-announce-gen-horta-nta-as-junta-leader/ |title=Guinea-Bissau soldiers announce Gen. Horta N'Ta as junta leader |work=Africanews |date=27 November 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20251127-general-horta-nta-sworn-in-as-guinea-bissau-transitional-leader-following-coup|title=General Horta N'Tam sworn in as Guinea-Bissau transitional leader following coup|work=France 24|date=27 November 2025}}</ref> | insignia = Emblem of Guinea-Bissau.svg | insigniacaption = Emblem of Guinea-Bissau | seat = Bissau }} {{Politics of Guinea-Bissau}} The '''Chief of the High Command'''<ref>https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/11/27/guinea-bissau-military-appoints-general-as-transition-president-after-coup</ref> or '''Leader of the High Command'''{{refn|<ref>https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/world/guinea-bissau-military-junta-leader-appointed-dotqtdch</ref><ref>https://edition.cnn.com/2025/11/27/africa/guinea-bissau-general-president-latam-intl</ref><ref>https://ln24international.com/2025/12/01/guinea-bissau-a-sovereign-reckoning-against-francafriques-grip/</ref><ref>https://adf-magazine.com/2026/01/guinea-bissau-junta-accused-of-sham-coup/</ref>}} or also known as '''Head of the High Military Command for the Restoration of Order'''<ref name="gs-2025-11-29">{{cite web|access-date=2025-12-03 |date=2025-11-29 |language=en |title=Horta N'Tam – Guinea-Bissau Transitional President |url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/africa/gnb-ntam.htm |website=globalsecurity.org}}</ref>{{efn|other names are following: Head of the Supreme Military Command for Restoring Order,<ref>https://www.fides.org/en/news/77084-AFRICA_GUINEA_BISSAU_Military_coup_on_the_eve_of_the_announcement_of_the_presidential_election_results</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Guinea-Bissau - Politics | url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/africa/gnb-ncanha.htm }}</ref> or Spokeperson<ref>https://apanews.net/guinea-bissau-army-chief-sworn-in-as-transitional-leader-after-coup/</ref><ref>https://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202511/27/WS69274cb0a310d6866eb2b947.html</ref>}} refers to the leading position of the High Military Command for the Restoration of National Security and Public Order, who is the ''de facto'' head of state and ''de facto'' head of government and with it the ''de facto'' leader of Guinea-Bissau; it is currently the highest position in Guinea-Bissau.<ref>{{cite web | title=Guinea-Bissau - Politics | url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/africa/gnb-ncanha.htm }}</ref>

== Background == {{Main article|2025 Guinea-Bissau coup d'état}} A faction of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of the People led by Dinis Incanha have overthrown Umaro Sissoco Embaló on 26 November 2025. In a broadcast on the same day Dinis Incanha confirmed this and also announced that the military took over and that the borders are closed. Further he told the public that the High Military Command for the Restoration of National Security and Public Order, a military junta was established, to administer the country for an interim period.<ref name="ap">{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/article/guinea-bissau-presidential-palace-unrest-election-2a1371eb1ceb25596b99c4cc4062bc95 |title=Soldiers in Guinea-Bissau appear on state television saying they have seized power in the country |work=AP News |date=26 November 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.dw.com/en/guinea-bissau-military-deposes-president-embalo-after-vote/a-74909428 |title=Guinea-Bissau military deposes President Embalo after vote |work=DW |date=26 November 2025}}</ref> Incanha who is the Spokesman and Head of the Military Household, Head of the Presidential Guard and also the Head of the Military Office of the Presidency, became the first Head of the junta.<ref>https://ln24international.com/2025/12/01/guinea-bissau-a-sovereign-reckoning-against-francafriques-grip/</ref><ref>https://adf-magazine.com/2026/01/guinea-bissau-junta-accused-of-sham-coup/</ref><ref>https://www.fides.org/en/news/77084-AFRICA_GUINEA_BISSAU_Military_coup_on_the_eve_of_the_announcement_of_the_presidential_election_results</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Guinea-Bissau - Politics | url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/africa/gnb-ncanha.htm }}</ref><ref name="bbc-20251126">{{cite news |last1=Negoce |first1=Nicolas |last2=Njie |first2=Paul |last3=Chibelushi |first3=Wedaeli |date=26 November 2025 |title=Soldiers seize power in Guinea-Bissau and detain the president |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0edww3qgq2o |access-date=30 November 2025 |work=BBC News |location=London |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251201032243/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0edww3qgq2o |archive-date=1 December 2025 |language=en-gb}}</ref>

== Development == === Dinis Incanha's leadership === The term of Dinis Incanha lasted only one day, he stepped down from office and the High Military Command for the Restoration of National Security and Public Order appointed on the same day Horta Inta-A Na Man as his successor and as Transitional President of the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/pt-002/golpe-na-guin%C3%A9-bissau-empossado-presidente-de-transi%C3%A7%C3%A3o/live-74922279|title=Golpe na Guiné-Bissau: Empossado presidente de transição|publisher=DW|date=27 November 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/mundo/general-horta-inta-a-empossado-presidente-de-transicao_n1701068|title=General Horta Inta-A empossado Presidente de transição|publisher=RTP|date=27 November 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.africanews.com/2025/11/27/guinea-bissau-soldiers-announce-gen-horta-nta-as-junta-leader/ |title=Guinea-Bissau soldiers announce Gen. Horta N'Ta as junta leader |work=Africanews |date=27 November 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20251127-general-horta-nta-sworn-in-as-guinea-bissau-transitional-leader-following-coup|title=General Horta N'Tam sworn in as Guinea-Bissau transitional leader following coup|work=France 24|date=27 November 2025}}</ref>

=== Horta Inta-A Na Man's leadership === After his appointment as Head of the junta, he made clear that he leads the High Command<ref>https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/11/27/guinea-bissau-military-appoints-general-as-transition-president-after-coup</ref> it was also made clear that he will serve as the transitional president for interim period of one year.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.africanews.com/2025/11/27/guinea-bissau-soldiers-announce-gen-horta-nta-as-junta-leader/ |title=Guinea-Bissau soldiers announce Gen. Horta N'Ta as junta leader |work=Africanews |date=27 November 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20251127-general-horta-nta-sworn-in-as-guinea-bissau-transitional-leader-following-coup|title=General Horta N'Tam sworn in as Guinea-Bissau transitional leader following coup|work=France 24|date=27 November 2025}}</ref> In his first act as the head of the junta and as the transitional president, Inta-A appointed Ilídio Vieira Té, an ally of Embaló and the current finance minister as prime minister.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/article/guinea-bissau-military-takeover-ecowas-0d06bcc9cf7eaf29243a1fcf6d7b307a |title=Guinea-Bissau soldiers appoint ally of deposed president as prime minister |work=AP News |date=28 November 2025}}</ref> The military junta established the "National Transitional Council" in December 2025.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.africanews.com/2025/12/07/guinea-bissau-military-forms-national-transitional-council-after-coup/|title=Guinea-Bissau military forms national transitional council after coup|date=July 12, 2025|website=Africanews}}</ref> The junta released a transitional charter in December 2025 that banned Horta from running for election. Between 21 January and 22 January 2026, Horta Inta-A Na Man announced a decree authorising elections for the legislature and the presidency to be held on 6 December 2026, after it deemed that "all the conditions for organising free, fair and transparent elections have been met".<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 January 2026 |title=Guinea-Bissau set to hold general elections on December 6 |url=https://www.africanews.com/2026/01/21/guinea-bissau-set-to-hold-general-elections-on-december-6/ |access-date=22 January 2026 |website=Africanews |language=en }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=22 January 2026 |title=Guinea-Bissau junta sets election date following last year’s coup |url=https://apnews.com/article/guinea-bissau-coup-election-7d2066d1b9e3e2943c9182a9f2c27839 |access-date=22 January 2026 |website=AP News |language=en }}</ref> After the election the High Military Command for the Restoration of National Security and Public Order is planned to be dissolved and with it also the position of the Chief of the High Command.

== List == ;Affiliations {{legend|{{party color|Military rule}}|Military|border=1px solid #aaa}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" ! rowspan="2" |{{Abbr|No.|Number}} ! rowspan="2" |Portrait ! rowspan="2" |Name {{small|(Birth–Death)}} ! rowspan="2" |Elected ! colspan="3" |Term of office ! rowspan="2" |Political party ! rowspan="2" |President ! rowspan="2" |Prime Minister |- ! Took office ! Left office ! Tenure |- ! style="background-color:{{party color|Military rule}}; color:black;" | 1 | 90px | Brigadier general Dinis Incanha {{small|(born 1960)}} | — | 26 November 2025 | 27 November 2025 | {{ayd|2025|11|26|2025|11|27}} | Military |''Vacant'' |Camará |- ! style="background-color:{{party color|Military rule}}; color:black;" | 2 | 90px | Major general<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rfi.fr/pt/%C3%A1frica-lus%C3%B3fona/20251129-guin%C3%A9-bissau-executivo-de-transi%C3%A7%C3%A3o-%C3%A9-uma-encena%C3%A7%C3%A3o-golpista|title=Guiné-Bissau: "Executivo de transição é uma encenação golpista"|date=November 29, 2025|website=RFI}}</ref> and General Horta Inta-A Na Man {{small|(born {{circa|1960}})}}{{efn|Also Transitional President of Guinea-Bissau.<ref>https://www.ictj.org/latest-news/guinea-bissau-general-sworn-transitional-president-after-coup</ref><ref>https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/11/28/world/politics/guinea-bissau-military-leader-power-grab/</ref><ref>https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20251127-guinea-bissau-general-sworn-in-as-transitional-president-following-coup</ref>}} | – | 27 November 2025 | Incumbent{{efn|Announced term end in December 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 January 2026 |title=Guinea-Bissau junta sets election date following last year’s coup |url=https://apnews.com/article/guinea-bissau-coup-election-7d2066d1b9e3e2943c9182a9f2c27839 |access-date=22 January 2026 |website=AP News |language=en }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=22 January 2026 |title=Guinea-Bissau set to hold general elections on December 6 |url=https://www.africanews.com/2026/01/21/guinea-bissau-set-to-hold-general-elections-on-december-6/ |access-date=22 January 2026 |website=Africanews |language=en }}</ref>}} | {{ayd|2025|11|27}} | Military | ''Himself'' | Camará Té |}

==Timeline== {{#tag:timeline| ImageSize = width:1000 height:auto barincrement:21 PlotArea = top:3 bottom:120 right:170 left:20 AlignBars = late

Define $today = {{#time:d/m/Y}}

DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy Period = from:26/11/2025 till:31/12/{{#expr:{{#time:Y}}+6}} TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal

Colors = id:mil value:rgb(0.76,0.69,0.57) legend:Military

id:gray1 value:gray(0.85) id:gray2 value:gray(0.95)

ScaleMajor = gridcolor:gray1 unit:year increment:5 start:26/11/2025 ScaleMinor = gridcolor:gray2 unit:year increment:1 start:26/11/2025

Legend = columns:1 left:170 top:80 columnwidth:230

TextData = pos:(20,85) textcolor:black fontsize:M text:"Political party:"

BarData = bar:Incanha bar:Nta

PlotData = width:5 align:left fontsize:9 shift:(5,-4) anchor:till

bar: Incanha from: 26/11/2025 till: 27/11/2025 color:mil text:"Dinis Incanha" bar: Nta from: 27/11/2025 till: $today color:mil text:"Horta Inta-A Na Man"

}}

== Notes == {{notelist}}

== References ==  {{reflist}}

Category:Political history of Guinea-Bissau Category:2025 establishments in Africa