Guinea-Bissau voters have provisionally approved a new constitution that significantly strengthens presidential authority and reduces the size of parliament, according to results announced by the National Electoral Commission.
Suggested image alt text: Editorial illustration of a ballot box, Guinea-Bissau map and parliamentary symbols.
Image disclosure: Editorial illustration generated for Umma Media; it does not depict the actual referendum or voting process.
Guinea-Bissau referendum result
The electoral commission said 70% of voters backed the constitutional changes, while 30% voted against them. Reuters reported that 544,060 people participated, representing nearly 60% of registered voters. The figures are provisional and remain subject to the country’s formal confirmation process.
The referendum was held on Sunday under the military-led transitional government that took power after the November 2025 coup. That takeover occurred before results from a disputed presidential election could be announced.
The new constitution gives the president authority to appoint and dismiss the prime minister and cabinet, reorganise government ministries and dissolve parliament during what it defines as a serious political crisis.
It also reduces the National People’s Assembly from 102 seats to 65 and cuts the number of electoral constituencies from 29 to 12. Presidential candidates will have to satisfy a five-year continuous residency requirement.
Opposition boycott raises credibility questions
The main opposition party, the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde, urged supporters to boycott the vote. It argued that the military-backed process lacked sufficient institutional safeguards and could entrench executive control rather than restore democratic government.
Associated Press reported low participation in parts of the capital and uncertainty among some voters about the proposal. Electoral authorities, however, presented the result as a valid national mandate for the constitutional changes.
No independent evidence has emerged that overturns the announced result, but the opposition’s boycott and the military government’s control of the transition remain important qualifications when assessing the vote’s legitimacy.
What the result changes
The referendum reshapes Guinea-Bissau’s semi-presidential system ahead of general elections planned for December 2026. Power previously divided between the presidency, prime minister and parliament will now be more concentrated in the presidency.
Supporters say the change may reduce institutional conflict in a country repeatedly disrupted by coups and political crises. Critics warn that concentrating authority under a military-managed transition could weaken checks and balances.
The immediate next steps are final certification of the referendum result, implementation of the constitutional framework and preparation for the December elections.
Sources
- Reuters: Guinea-Bissau approves constitution expanding presidential powers
- Associated Press: Voters back sweeping power shift
- Africa Center for Strategic Studies: Referendum explainer
