Gambiaj.com – (BISSAU) – Guinea-Bissau’s transitional military authorities have taken another major step in consolidating control, beginning with a decisive shake-up at the apex of the armed forces. On Thursday afternoon, the President of the Transitional Republic, General Horta Inta-a, appointed Major General Tomás Djassi as the new Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, ending the 11-year tenure of General Biaguê Na N’Tan.
The appointment, formalized through Presidential Decree No. 1/2025, marks a deliberate shift in the military hierarchy.
Djassi, a seasoned security figure with a long record of loyalty within the armed forces and security apparatus, has previously served as Commander of the National Guard, National Commissioner of the Public Order Police, and most recently as Head of Security for the Presidency of the Republic.
His rise reflects the junta’s strategy of positioning trusted officers in roles essential to securing the transition.
The removal of General Na N’Tan, appointed in 2014 and reappointed under different administrations, is widely interpreted as an attempt to dismantle entrenched structures from the pre-junta era.
Analysts note that replacing such a longstanding figure is both symbolic and tactical, ensuring no competing centers of power remain within the military.
A New Government Built Around Security
Shortly after reshaping the military command, General Horta Inta-a unveiled a new government comprising 23 ministers and five state secretaries, further reinforcing the centrality of the security apparatus in Guinea-Bissau’s transitional governance.
The cabinet, led by Prime Minister Ilídio Vieira Té, was formalised in Presidential Decree No. 04 of November 29, 2025.
While the government includes technocrats and figures known for administrative competence, the most sensitive ministries have been entrusted to senior officers or trusted individuals deeply rooted in the security sector.
Brigadier General Mamasaliu Embaló now oversees the Ministry of the Interior and Public Order, placing internal security under firm military control. At the Ministry of National Defense, Major-General Stive Lassana Manssaly assumes command, ensuring continuity between the armed forces and the political leadership.
Meanwhile, João Bernardo Vieira’s appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs positions a loyal and experienced figure to navigate the diplomatic challenges of a transitional regime whose legitimacy remains under scrutiny.
Key political coordination also remains in secure hands, with Usna António Quadé appointed as Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and Parliamentary Affairs.
Other appointments reinforce the junta’s strategy of blending continuity with control. José Carlos Esteves remains Minister of Public Works, Mamadú Baldé stays on as Secretary of State for Finance, and Elísio Gomes Sá continues as Secretary of State for Budget and Fiscal Affairs. These reappointments appear designed to maintain administrative stability while the core levers of power are restructured.
Expanding Military Influence Beyond Security Portfolios
The junta has extended its influence beyond traditionally military domains, appointing security-linked figures to civilian roles that shape governance and national identity. Salvador Soares, the National Commissioner of Police, has been named Secretary of State for Public Order, embedding operational security expertise within the political framework.
Rear Admiral Carlos Alfredo Mandughal, former Chief of Staff of the Navy, is now Secretary of State for the Battles for the Freedom of the Homeland, a position with symbolic weight that reinforces the junta’s narrative of national salvation.
At the same time, new technocrats and political entrants have been appointed to oversee strategic ministries such as Natural Resources, Energy, Agriculture, Health, and Social Communication.
Their presence provides an appearance of diversity within the cabinet, even as the overarching direction of the government remains clearly shaped by the military leadership.
A Step-by-Step Consolidation of Power
Taken together, the changes at the top of the armed forces and the formation of a security-heavy government reflect a deliberate, methodical approach through which the junta is tightening its grip on the state.
Since assuming control, General Horta Inta-a has moved carefully to secure the military hierarchy, neutralize longstanding political actors, and embed trusted officers at every level of national administration.
The pace and sequence of these moves, first the security apparatus, then the political executive, and now the symbolic institutions of state, suggest a transition oriented more toward stabilizing military authority than preparing for an imminent handover to civilian rule.
Regional observers warn that while the restructuring may bring short-term cohesion, it could also prolong military dominance if mechanisms for a genuine democratic transition are not clearly defined.
For now, Guinea-Bissau enters a new phase of its transition with a government and armed forces leadership closely aligned with the junta’s vision, leaving uncertain how long this concentration of power will endure or what political opening, if any, lies ahead.
