Voters in Guinea-Bissau have approved a new constitution that expands presidential powers ahead of a general election scheduled for December 2026. The referendum was organized by the military government that took power in November 2025 following a disputed election. Provisional results from the electoral commission indicate that 70% of voters supported the changes, with a turnout of nearly 60%.
The new constitution allows the president to appoint and dismiss the prime minister and cabinet, create or abolish ministries, and dissolve parliament during a grave political crisis. The main opposition party, the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), boycotted the vote, citing concerns over the lack of political safeguards and the potential threat to the country's democratic transition.
Guinea-Bissau has faced significant political instability, with at least nine coups since gaining independence in 1974. The UN has referred to the country as a "narco-state" due to its geography, which facilitates drug trafficking.
The new constitution also reduces the number of parliamentary seats from 102 to 65 and the number of electoral constituencies from 29 to 12. It retains the five-year presidential term and two-term limit but introduces new eligibility requirements for presidential candidates, including a provision that they must have lived in Guinea-Bissau for the five years prior to an election.
The military authorities argue that these changes are necessary to resolve ongoing disputes between presidents and prime ministers. However, critics, including PAIGC leader Domingos Simões Pereira, warn that the reforms could concentrate too much power in the presidency. Regional analyst Paul Ejime expressed concerns that the referendum result does not reflect the will of the people and called for intervention from the regional bloc Ecowas to enforce rules against constitutional changes close to elections.
The military seized power in November 2025 after a disputed election in which both the incumbent president and the opposition candidate claimed victory. The junta stated that it acted to prevent a plot to destabilize the country. The upcoming elections will be a critical test of the military's commitment to restoring civilian rule and the implications of the expanded presidential powers on Guinea-Bissau's political landscape.