General Biagué Na N’Tan (born 1950) is a titan of the Guinea-Bissau military who served as the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces for over a decade (2014–2025). Known for his long-standing loyalty to the state and his ability to maintain relative stability within a factionalized army, he was a central figure in the administration of President Umaro Sissoco Embaló until he was swept up in the November 26, 2025, coup d’état.
Key Biographical Information
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Biagué Na N’Tan |
| Born | June 12, 1950, Bambadinca, Bafatá Region |
| Ethnicity | Balanta |
| Former Office | Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces (2014–2025) |
| Current Status | Detained (Under military supervision as of late 2025) |
| Succeeded By | Major-General Tomás Djassi (Appointed Nov 27, 2025) |
| Key Distinction | One of the longest-serving military chiefs in West African history. |
A Decade of Military Leadership (2014–2025)
Biagué Na N’Tan was appointed as the army chief in 2014 following a period of extreme instability. His leadership was defined by a few key characteristics:
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Professionalization: He often spoke of moving the army away from its history of political intervention and drug trafficking, attempting to instill a sense of “Republican” discipline among the troops.
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Loyalty to Embaló: Despite the Balanta ethnic group’s historical friction with some Bissau-Guinean leaders, Na N’Tan became a crucial pillar of support for President Umaro Sissoco Embaló. He was credited with neutralizing several coup attempts in 2022 and 2023 that targeted the president.
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Sovereignty Advocate: He was a vocal critic of foreign military intervention, famously opposing the deployment of additional ECOWAS troops to the country, arguing that the Bissau-Guinean military was capable of securing its own democracy.
The 2025 Coup and Fall from Power
The “quiet intervention” of November 26, 2025, marked the sudden end of Na N’Tan’s long tenure.
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Arrest and Deposal: As the High Military Command (led by Brigadier General Dinis Incanha) seized control of the capital, Na N’Tan was detained alongside President Embaló. The coup leaders characterized the move as a “restoration of order” following alleged election manipulation.
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Replacement: On November 27, 2025, the newly sworn-in transitional president, Horta Inta-A Na Man, issued a decree officially relieving Na N’Tan of his duties and appointing Tomás Djassi (Embaló’s former security chief) as the new Chief of Staff.
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“Good Health” Status: In a public statement issued on November 28, the military junta confirmed that Na N’Tan, the former Interior Minister Botché Candé, and other senior officers were in “good health” and remained under the supervision of the High Military Command.
Current Status (Late December 2025)
As of Christmas Day 2025, General Biagué Na N’Tan remains a high-profile “political prisoner” or “protected detainee” of the junta.
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The “Old Guard” Removal: His arrest is viewed by regional analysts as a “clearing of the decks” by younger or more ambitious officers who sought to dismantle the power structure that had supported the Embaló administration for five years.
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Regional Pressure: ECOWAS and the African Union have specifically mentioned Na N’Tan in their demands for the release of all officials detained during the November coup, though the junta has yet to set a date for his release.
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Health Concerns: Given his age (75) and a history of health issues that required him to travel abroad for treatment in the past, there is significant concern among his supporters regarding his continued detention in military quarters.
The fall of Biagué Na N’Tan represents a major generational shift in the Bissau-Guinean military, ending the era of the “old veterans” from the war of independence who had dominated the armed forces for half a century.