Botché Candé (born 1955) is a powerful Bissau-Guinean politician who served as the Minister of State for the Interior until he was deposed and arrested during the November 26, 2025, coup d’état. A veteran of the country’s political scene and a key pillar of the Madem G15 party, he was considered one of President Umaro Sissoco Embaló’s most loyal and formidable enforcers before the military took control.
Key Biographical Information
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Botché Candé |
| Born | July 18, 1955, Guinea-Bissau |
| Former Office | Minister of State for the Interior (2020–2025) |
| Political Party | Madem G15 (Movement for Democratic Alternation) |
| Current Status | In Custody (Detained since November 26, 2025) |
| Succeeded By | Mamasaliu Embaló (Appointed by the Junta) |
The “Minister of All Regimes”
Candé earned a reputation as a political survivor, having served in various ministerial roles under several different presidents.
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The Interior Portfolio: Since 2020, he has controlled the Ministry of the Interior, overseeing the police and internal security. He was often described as the “heavy hand” of the Embaló administration, responsible for maintaining order during the President’s frequent clashes with parliament.
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Political Loyalty: As a senior leader in the Madem G15 party, he was instrumental in consolidating Embaló’s power base, particularly in the eastern regions of the country.
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Controversies: His tenure was not without scandal. In October 2022, he was briefly “fired” by Embaló following allegations related to drug trafficking networks, only to be immediately reappointed as a Minister of State in a different portfolio and later returned to the Interior Ministry. Critics viewed him as a figure who bridged the gap between the political elite and the country’s powerful “informal” networks.
The 2025 Coup and Fall from Grace
On November 26, 2025, as gunfire erupted at the Presidential Palace, Candé was one of the first high-ranking officials to be targeted by the High Military Command.
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The Arrest: Candé was arrested alongside President Embaló and the top military brass (Generals Biagué Na N’Tan and Mamadou Touré). He was reportedly taken to the general staff headquarters in Bissau.
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The “Sham” Allegations: Some opposition figures and civil society groups (such as the Popular Front) have alleged that the coup was a “staged” event intended to protect Embaló and his inner circle—including Candé—from an imminent election loss. However, the military’s decision to keep Candé in custody while allowing Embaló to go into exile has fueled debate about his true standing with the new junta.
Current Status (Late December 2025)
As of Christmas Day 2025, Botché Candé remains under military detention.
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Excluded from Release: On December 24, 2025, the junta released six opposition politicians (associates of Domingos Simões Pereira) as a gesture of “good faith.” However, Candé was not among those freed.
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New Administration: The junta has already replaced him at the Ministry of Interior with Mamasaliu Embaló, signaling a permanent end to his five-year grip on the country’s security apparatus.
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Uncertain Future: Unlike the professional soldiers who were deposed, Candé faces a complex legal future. Given his role in the previous administration’s crackdowns, there are calls from the opposition for him to face investigation for past “governance abuses.”
The detention of Botché Candé represents a significant blow to the Madem G15 party and the removal of one of the most influential “fixers” in Bissau-Guinean politics.