Caetano N'Tchama

Caetano N'Tchama (born 1955) is a Guinea-Bissau politician and former Prime Minister. He held that position from 19 February 2000 to 19 March 2001 and is a member of the Social Renewal Party (PRS).

N'Tchama served as Minister of the Interior under Prime Minister Francisco Fadul from 1999 to 2000; [Andrea E. Ostheimer, [http://www.iss.co.za/ASR/10No4/Ostheimer.html "The Structural Crisis in Guinea-Bissau's Political System"] , "African Security Review", Vol. 10, No. 4, 2001.] in Fadul's national unity government, which was sworn in on February 20 1999, N'Tchama was one of the members chosen by Ansumane Mane's military junta. [ [http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=5297 "GUINEA-BISSAU: Prime Minister Fadul takes oath of office"] , IRIN, February 22, 1999.] Following the election of PRS leader Kumba Ialá as President, N'Tchama, who was the third ranking leader of the PRS and is a cousin of Ialá, was chosen by the PRS as Prime Minister in a party vote on 24 January 2000, with 46 votes in favor and six opposed. ["New Guinea-Bissau ruling party names prime minister", AFP (nl.newsbank.com), 24 January 2000.] In late September and early October 2000, he was in Dakar and then Paris for medical treatment. ["Guinea-Bissau: Prime minister in France for medical treatment", RDP Africa web site (nl.newsbank.com), October 6, 2000.] After Fadul accused N'Tchama of corruption, N'Tchama said in October 2000 that he planned to take legal action against Fadul due to these accusations. ["Guinea-Bissau: Opposition leaders say government "corrupt"", RDP Africa web site (nl.newsbank.com), October 19, 2000.]

In March 2001, the PRS held discussions on replacing N'Tchama as Prime Minister. ["Guinea-Bissau: Ruling party discusses prime minister's replacement", RDP Africa web site (nl.newsbank.com), March 8, 2001.] Ialá dismissed N'Tchama on March 19, saying that this move was necessary to increase stability and decrease political tension. ["Guinea-Bissau's president dismisses prime minister", Associated Press (nl.newsbank.com), March 19, 2001.] N'Tchama subsequently became head of the Internal Audit Board before being appointed as Attorney General on September 6 2001. [ [http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=26563 "GUINEA-BISSAU: Attorney General dismissed"] , IRIN, September 7, 2001.]

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