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Guinea-Bissau’s transitional leader, General Horta N’Tam, has travelled to Chad for his first foreign visit since taking power more than eight months ago, as his military-led government faces mounting pressure to restore civilian rule.
N’Tam arrived in Chad on Monday to attend celebrations marking the country’s 66th anniversary of independence. His visit comes as Guinea-Bissau prepares for elections scheduled for December 6 and seeks to ease the diplomatic isolation that followed last year’s military takeover.
Observers say the trip could help strengthen N’Tam’s legitimacy and reinforce ties with Chad at a critical point in Guinea-Bissau’s political transition.
N’Tam’s flight left Osvaldo Vieira International Airport at about 9:30 GMT, although no details were immediately provided about his programme in Chad.
The Chadian presidency said N’Tam was “the guest of the president of the Republic of Chad to attend the military parades” marking the independence anniversary.
Guinea-Bissau’s military seized power in late November, removing President Umaro Sissoco Embalo a day before provisional results from presidential and legislative elections were due to be announced. Embalo had been seeking a second term. The junta subsequently appointed N’Tam, a close associate of Embalo, to lead the transition.
The coup drew condemnation from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union, both of which suspended Guinea-Bissau from participation. Several countries, including neighbouring Senegal and Guinea, also froze or reduced diplomatic engagement with Bissau.
The country is due to hold fresh presidential and legislative elections on December 6 as part of efforts to return to civilian government. Before then, voters are expected to participate in a constitutional referendum on August 30 that would consider changes giving the president greater powers.
N’Tam, however, is barred from contesting elections under the transitional charter published in December.
A Senegalese delegation appointed by ECOWAS as a mediator visited Guinea-Bissau last Thursday to present a new proposal aimed at stabilising the transition and restoring constitutional order.
Relations between Guinea-Bissau and Chad have strengthened since Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno visited Bissau in May 2025. Several sectoral agreements were signed during that visit, helping deepen bilateral ties.
The latest trip comes as Guinea-Bissau continues to navigate a long history of political instability. Since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974, the West African country has experienced five coups and numerous attempted takeovers.
