Guinea-Bissau’s New Transitional President, General Horta N’Tam (Inta-A) Biography: Age, Military Rank, Religion, and the 2025 Coup

General Horta Inta-A (N’Tam): Biography & Profile

General Horta Inta-A (also spelled Horta N’Tam or Horta Nta Na Man) is a Bissau-Guinean senior military officer who rose to international prominence in late November 2025 after being sworn in as the Transitional President of Guinea-Bissau. A career soldier and former Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, his emergence followed a military coup that ousted the civilian government amidst a disputed presidential election.

Quick Facts Profile (Revised)

Personal Life: Religion, Wife, and Family

Details about General Horta Inta-A’s personal life—including his religious affiliation, whether he is married, or the size of his family—are not publicly documented or confirmed in international media following his sudden emergence as Transitional President.

While Guinea-Bissau has a diverse population (predominantly Muslim and Christian, with strong traditional beliefs), the General’s specific faith remains private. Like many senior military figures in a politically unstable environment, he has maintained a low public profile, with all known biographical information focusing on his military ascent and political role during the 2025 coup.

Military Career & Rise to Power

Early Career & Training

Details of General Horta Inta-A’s early life and specific military training remain sparse in the public domain, a common trait for military figures in the region who operate outside the political spotlight until a crisis. He is a career soldier who climbed the ranks of the Bissau-Guinean army over several decades, surviving the country’s tumultuous history of coups and political instability.

Chief of Staff (2023–2025)

Before assuming the presidency, General Horta served as the Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces, the highest-ranking position in the Guinea-Bissau military. He was appointed to this role in 2023. During his tenure, he was widely viewed as a loyalist to President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, making his eventual role in the military takeover a complex pivot that surprised many international observers.

Emergence as Transitional President (2025 Coup)

The November 2025 Coup

General Horta Inta-A emerged as the face of the “High Military Command for the Restoration of Order” following a military takeover on November 26-27, 2025. The coup took place in the immediate aftermath of a fiercely contested presidential election between the incumbent, President Embaló, and opposition challenger Fernando Dias.

• Context: Both candidates had claimed victory, leading to a tense standoff. Gunfire was reported around the presidential palace and electoral commission.
• The Takeover: Military officers intervened, detaining the President and dissolving the government. They cited the “inability of political actors to stem the deterioration of the political climate” as the justification for their intervention.

Swearing-In Ceremony

On November 27, 2025, General Horta Inta-A was sworn in as Transitional President. In his inaugural address, he promised to oversee a one-year transition period to return the country to stability. Opposition figures, however, have alleged that the coup may have been “arranged” or “fabricated” by the former President’s inner circle to avoid an electoral defeat, citing General Horta’s history as a close ally of the deposed leader.

Political & Military Significance

General Horta Inta-A is currently the most powerful figure in Guinea-Bissau. His leadership will be defined by how he handles the transition timeline and whether he can maintain the unity of the armed forces in a country often plagued by drug trafficking and factional infighting.

Note on Name Variations: In international media, you will see his name spelled as Horta N’Tam, Horta Inta-A, or Horta Nta Na Man. These all refer to the same individual.

Current Status: As of late November 2025, he governs Guinea-Bissau as the head of the military junta, facing pressure from ECOWAS and the African Union to restore constitutional order.