Guinea-Bissau votes in referendum to rewrite constitution and boost presidential powers

Voters in Guinea-Bissau are casting their ballots in a referendum that may significantly expand the powers of the presidency. The West African nation held polls on Sunday, August 30, 2026, to decide on a new constitution aimed at reforming the country's political system ahead of upcoming elections. According to Idrissa Djalo, the executive secretary of the National Electoral Commission, voter turnout surpassed the 55 percent mark, with the voting process proceeding "without any incidents that would call into question the credibility of the vote."

The push for change comes less than ten months after a military coup took control of the country. The military government emphasizes its commitment to stabilizing institutions before holding presidential and parliamentary elections, set for December 6, which are expected to restore power to a civilian government. The proposed new constitution would transition Guinea-Bissau's political structure from a parliamentary system to a presidential one.

This change would eliminate the practice of prime ministers coming from the majority in the parliament, a system that has resulted in challenging power-sharing arrangements. Under the new framework, the head of state would also hold the authority to appoint and dismiss the prime minister and other government members, as well as the power to dissolve parliament.

During Sunday's vote, citizens answered "yes" or "no" to the question: "Do you agree with the entry into force of the new constitution approved by the National Transitional Council?" The military leader and transitional president, General Horta Inta-A Na Man, expressed his intention regarding the referendum outcome, stating, "What we want after this referendum is to allow whoever wins the elections to see out their mandate without hindrance."

Under the transitional charter he supports, General Horta Inta-A Na Man is ineligible to participate in the elections. The referendum follows a history of political instability in the country. The November 2025 presidential election saw both candidates claiming victory and blaming each other for electoral interference, leading to the military intervention.