Key Points
- Guinea-Bissau voters have provisionally approved a new constitution with 70 per cent voting in favour.
- The reforms give the president power to appoint and dismiss the prime minister and cabinet.
- Parliament would be reduced from 102 to 65 seats under the new constitution.
Main Story
Voters in Guinea-Bissau have provisionally approved a new constitution that expands presidential powers and changes the country’s electoral system ahead of a presidential election scheduled for December.
The National Electoral Commission said 70 per cent of voters backed the reforms, while 30 per cent voted against them. About 544,060 people participated, representing almost 60 per cent of registered voters.
Under the new constitution, the president would have the authority to appoint and dismiss the prime minister and cabinet, replacing the current arrangement under which parliament names the prime minister.
The president would also be able to create or abolish ministries and dissolve parliament in the event of a grave political crisis.
The referendum was held under a military government that came to power after a coup in November 2025. The country’s main opposition party, the PAIGC, boycotted the vote and questioned the safeguards surrounding the process.
PAIGC leader Domingos Simoes Pereira said the referendum’s supporters were seeking to “kill our freedom and bury our democracy.”
A spokesperson for the military government could not be reached for comment.
The Issues
The constitutional changes would significantly alter the balance of power between Guinea-Bissau’s presidency and parliament.
Parliament would be reduced from 102 seats to 65, while the number of electoral constituencies would fall from 29 to 12.
The reforms would also introduce a five-year residency requirement for presidential candidates, who would have to have lived continuously in Guinea-Bissau during the five years preceding an election.
The referendum has therefore given the military government provisional backing for changes to the country’s political and electoral framework, although the opposition’s boycott raises questions about the breadth of political participation in the process.
Reports from the capital, Bissau, said polling stations were largely empty during Sunday’s vote. Some residents told local media they were unaware that the referendum was taking place or did not understand its purpose.
What’s Being Said
“Kill our freedom and bury our democracy.” – Domingos Simoes Pereira, PAIGC leader.
Pereira made the statement in a video message urging opposition supporters to reject the referendum process.
What’s Next
The provisional referendum result provides the military government with a basis for implementing the proposed constitutional changes ahead of the presidential election scheduled for December.
The reforms would reshape the powers of the presidency, parliament and the electoral system if implemented as approved.
Bottom Line
Guinea-Bissau voters have provisionally backed a new constitution that strengthens presidential powers and reduces the size of parliament. The vote comes ahead of December’s presidential election and was boycotted by the country’s main opposition party.
