Guinea-Bissau Voters Approve Constitution Expanding Presidential Powers

Voters in Guinea-Bissau approved a new constitution in a Sunday referendum, with provisional results released Tuesday showing 70 percent support. The reforms transition the country from a parliamentary to a presidential system, granting the president authority to appoint and dismiss the prime minister and cabinet, create or abolish ministries, and dissolve parliament during political crises. The overhaul also reduces the legislature from 102 to 65 seats and cuts electoral constituencies from 29 to 12.

The Military Junta of Guinea-Bissau, which seized power in November 2025 following a disputed election, promoted the changes as a means to stabilize institutions and end frequent political deadlocks. Transitional President General Horta N'Tam argued the new framework would allow future election winners to complete their mandates without hindrance. The National Election Commission reported a voter turnout exceeding 55 percent, with approximately 544,060 people casting ballots.

Opposition groups, led by the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), urged a boycott of the vote. Party leader Domingos Simões Pereira and other critics claimed the process lacked legitimacy and sought to concentrate excessive power in a single individual. Some reports from the capital, Bissau, indicated low turnout at various stations and a fraught social environment. The approved constitution now establishes the legal framework for presidential and legislative elections scheduled for December 6, which are intended to restore civilian rule.