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Guinea-Bissau voters approve new constitution expanding presidential powers ahead of December elections

Voters in Guinea-Bissau have approved a new constitution that significantly expands presidential powers as the nation prepares to transition from military to civilian rule. The referendum, organized by the military government that seized power in November 2025 following a disputed election, shifts the country from a parliamentary to a presidential system. Under the new rules, the president will have the authority to appoint and dismiss the prime minister and cabinet, as well as dissolve parliament. The constitution also reduces the number of seats in parliament from 102 to 65 and cuts the number of electoral constituencies from 29 to 12. While the military authorities argue these changes are necessary to stabilize institutions and end repeated disputes between the president and prime minister, the main opposition party, the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), boycotted the vote. The PAIGC warned that the changes risk concentrating too much power in the presidency and argued that the process lacked adequate political and institutional safeguards. Provisional results show that 70% of voters backed the changes, while 30% voted against them, with a turnout reported at nearly 60%.

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