Guinea-Bissau Approves Constitutional Changes to Expand Presidential Powers

A constitutional referendum in Guinea-Bissau has approved sweeping changes that will significantly strengthen the powers of the president, according to the National Electoral Commission.

The commission said on Tuesday that about 70 percent of voters who participated in the referendum backed the proposed constitutional amendments, while voter turnout was nearly 60 percent.

The referendum was organised by the country’s transitional military government, which came to power following a coup in November 2025. The vote was held ahead of general elections scheduled for December, which are expected to pave the way for a return to civilian rule.

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 empowered to create or abolish ministries and dissolve parliament under certain conditions.

The changes represent a major shift from the current power-sharing arrangement, under which the prime minister oversees the day-to-day running of government and is chosen by parliament.

The constitutional reforms will also reduce the number of parliamentary seats from 102 to 65 and cut the number of electoral constituencies from 29 to 12.

However, the referendum has faced strong opposition from the main opposition party, the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), as well as civil society organisations. They have criticised the process, arguing that it could undermine the country’s transition to democracy.

PAIGC had urged citizens to boycott the referendum, while international news agencies reported that many polling stations appeared largely empty during voting.

Critics have accused the military authorities of using the constitutional changes to consolidate power and reshape the political system ahead of the December elections.

The military government, however, maintains that the reforms are necessary to strengthen state institutions and promote political stability before the country returns to civilian rule.

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