General Mamadou Touré (also known as Mamadu Ture or by his alias N’Krúmah) is a senior Bissau-Guinean military officer who served as the Deputy Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces until the November 26, 2025, coup d’état. A longtime fixture in the country’s military-political landscape, he was a key ally of the Embaló administration and, like his superior General Biagué Na N’Tan, was detained during the military takeover.
Key Biographical Information
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Mamadou Touré Kourouma |
| Alias | N’Krúmah |
| Born | April 26, 1947, Guinea-Bissau |
| Former Office | Deputy Chief of General Staff (until Nov 2025) |
| Current Status | Detained (Under military supervision as of late 2025) |
| Key Associations | Closely linked to the “Old Guard” and President Umaro Sissoco Embaló |
| Sanctions History | Subject to UN and EU sanctions following the 2012 coup |
Military Career and Sanctions
General Touré’s career has been marked by significant influence during Guinea-Bissau’s most turbulent periods.
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The 2012 Coup: He rose to international notoriety as a leading member of the “Military Command” that seized power on April 12, 2012, during the presidential election process. This role led to him being placed on the United Nations Security Council sanctions list (Resolution 2048), which included travel bans and asset freezes that remained in place for years.
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Deputy Chief of Staff: Despite his history with coups, he was eventually integrated back into the senior command under President Embaló, serving as the number-two officer in the military under General Biagué Na N’Tan. His presence in the high command was seen as a way for the president to balance factional interests within the army.
The 2025 Coup and Detention
On November 26, 2025, General Touré was among the high-ranking officials swept up in the coup led by Brigadier General Dinis Incanha.
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The Arrest: Touré was arrested at the presidential palace alongside President Embaló and General Na N’Tan. The coup occurred just a day before the official results of the 2025 general election were set to be released.
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State of Detention: On November 27, 2025, the new military junta (the High Military Command) confirmed that Touré was being held at the general staff headquarters. In a public broadcast, the junta claimed that he and other senior officials were in “good health” and were being “well-treated” while they remained under military supervision.
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Succession in Command: Following his detention, the transitional government officially relieved him of his duties. His role in the military hierarchy has effectively been dismantled as the junta seeks to install a new generation of loyalist officers.
Current Status (Late December 2025)
As of Christmas Day 2025, General Mamadou Touré remains in military custody.
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Awaiting Clarity: Unlike President Embaló, who was allowed to go into exile in Senegal (and later Congo), Touré remains on Bissau-Guinean soil. There have been no formal charges filed against him, but the junta continues to hold him to prevent any “counter-revolutionary” activities from the former military leadership.
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International Oversight: Human rights organizations and regional bodies (ECOWAS) have called for the “unconditional release” of all political and military prisoners from the November coup, though the junta has given no indication that Touré will be freed before the transitional period ends.
The removal of “N’Krúmah” marks the end of an era for one of the most resilient figures in the Bissau-Guinean military, who managed to survive multiple regime changes and international sanctions only to be deposed by his own subordinates.