Guinea-Bissau Approves New Constitution Expanding Presidential Powers Ahead Of December Elections

Guinea-Bissau has provisionally approved a new constitution by 70% of votes cast in a referendum that expands presidential powers, reduces parliament from 102 to 65 seats and cuts electoral constituencies from 29 to 12. The reforms come less than a year after a military coup interrupted disputed elections and installed a transitional government. While authorities say the new system will reduce political conflict, the main opposition boycotted the referendum and accused the military-backed process of threatening democracy. The December elections will now be a major test of Guinea-Bissau's return to civilian rule.

Guinea-Bissau has approved a new constitution that significantly increases the powers of the president and changes the country’s electoral system, according to provisional results released by the National Electoral Commission.
About 70% of voters supported the constitutional reforms, while 30% voted against them. The commission said 544,060 people participated in the referendum, representing almost 60% of registered voters.
The referendum was held on Sunday, August 30, as the West African country prepares for presidential and legislative elections scheduled for December.
The vote, however, has been controversial because Guinea-Bissau is currently under a military-led transitional government following last year's coup.

PRESIDENT TO GAIN MUCH GREATER POWER

Under the new constitution, the president will have the authority to appoint and dismiss the prime minister and members of the cabinet.
The president will also be able to create or abolish government ministries and dissolve parliament in the event of what is described as a grave political crisis.
This represents a major change from the previous system, under which parliament played a central role in selecting the prime minister, who then formed the government.
Supporters of the reform argue that the existing system created repeated conflicts between presidents, prime ministers and parliamentary majorities.
Military authorities have presented the new arrangement as a way of reducing political deadlock and making the country's system of government clearer.
Critics, however, fear that concentrating so much authority in the presidency could weaken parliament and make it easier for whoever controls the presidency to dominate the political system.

PARLIAMENT WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY SMALLER

The constitutional changes will also reduce the size of Guinea-Bissau's parliament from 102 seats to 65.
The number of electoral constituencies will fall from 29 to 12.
Supporters say a smaller legislature could make parliamentary debates and decision-making more efficient. Opponents argue that reducing representation could make it harder for smaller political parties and communities to have a voice in national politics.
The constitution also introduces a new requirement for presidential candidates: anyone seeking the presidency must have lived continuously in Guinea-Bissau for at least five years before the election.
The requirement could have significant consequences for politicians who have spent extended periods outside the country, including members of the large Guinean diaspora.

MAIN OPPOSITION BOYCOTTED THE REFERENDUM

The referendum was not supported by Guinea-Bissau's main opposition party, the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC).
The party called for a boycott, arguing that the constitutional process lacked sufficient political and institutional safeguards.
Opposition figures have accused the military-led authorities of using the constitutional reform to strengthen the presidency and potentially consolidate the military's influence over the country's future political system.
There were also reports of low participation at some polling stations, particularly in the capital, while some voters were reportedly unclear about what the referendum was intended to change.
The controversy means that although the provisional result gives the new constitution strong numerical support among those who voted, questions about the political environment surrounding the referendum are likely to remain.

THE COUP THAT CHANGED THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE

The referendum comes less than a year after Guinea-Bissau's latest military takeover.
On November 26, 2025, soldiers seized power shortly after the country's presidential and legislative elections and before official results were announced.
Both then-President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and opposition candidate Fernando Dias had claimed victory in the disputed presidential election.
The military suspended the electoral process, took control of key state institutions and eventually installed General Horta Inta-A as transitional president.
Embaló was allowed to leave the country, while some opposition figures were detained or forced to seek protection. The electoral commission later reported that important electoral materials and equipment had been seized or destroyed.
The military authorities subsequently suspended the constitution and established a transitional political system intended to lead the country back to civilian rule.
The December elections are therefore expected to be an important test of whether Guinea-Bissau can return to elected government after the coup.

A COUNTRY WITH A LONG HISTORY OF POLITICAL INSTABILITY

The latest crisis is not an isolated event.
Guinea-Bissau has experienced repeated coups and attempted coups since independence from Portugal in 1974. The country has struggled for decades with rivalry between civilian political leaders and the powerful military establishment.
Previous coups occurred in 1980, 2003 and 2012, while several attempted takeovers and assassination plots have also shaken the country.
In February 2022, President Embaló survived an attempted coup, while political tensions continued to rise in subsequent years.
The November 2025 takeover therefore became another chapter in a political history in which military intervention has repeatedly disrupted democratic institutions.

WHY THE NEW CONSTITUTION MATTERS

The constitutional changes could fundamentally alter the balance of power in Guinea-Bissau.
A stronger presidency could potentially reduce the recurring battles between the president and prime minister that have paralysed governments in the past.
But it could also create a system in which winning the presidency becomes far more important because the president would control significantly more of the government.
That is particularly sensitive in Guinea-Bissau because the country is attempting to move from military rule back to civilian government.
The key question will therefore not only be whether the new constitution produces a more efficient government, but whether the military ultimately accepts civilian political authority after the December elections.

A DELICATE ROAD BACK TO DEMOCRACY

The military authorities have defended the constitutional reforms as necessary to end years of political confrontation and create a more stable political system.
Critics see the process differently.
They argue that constitutional changes made under an unelected military government, particularly when major opposition forces boycott the vote, raise questions about the legitimacy of the new political framework.
For ordinary Guineans, the debate goes beyond political institutions. The country continues to face widespread poverty and weak public services, making political stability crucial to improving everyday living conditions. Guinea-Bissau has a population of about 2.2 million people, with more than half living below the poverty line, according to World Bank data cited by the Associated Press.
The December elections will therefore be closely watched, both inside Guinea-Bissau and across West Africa.
If the elections are considered credible and the military accepts the outcome, the country could take an important step towards restoring democratic rule.
If the new constitutional order instead becomes a tool for concentrating power or prolonging military influence, Guinea-Bissau could face another period of political confrontation.