World News
Guinea-Bissau voters decide on referendum to expand presidential powers
The proposal follows a November 2025 military coup and precedes general elections scheduled for December.
The short version
- Voters in Guinea-Bissau are deciding on a referendum to shift the political system from a semi-presidential model to one with executive authority concentrated in the presidency.
- The draft constitution reduces parliament from 102 to 65 seats, cuts electoral constituencies, creates a Constitutional Court, and imposes stricter candidacy requirements.
- The referendum comes nine months after a military coup installed General Horta Inta-A Na Man as transitional president ahead of scheduled December 2026 general elections.
- Opposition groups, including the PAIGC, have rejected the referendum and called for a boycott, arguing the draft lacks legitimacy because it was prepared under military rule.
Key facts
- The referendum held on August 30 proposes a new constitution that reduces parliament from 102 to 65 seats and cuts electoral constituencies from 29 to 12.[Al Jazeera]
- The proposal requires presidential candidates to have lived in Guinea-Bissau for five consecutive years prior to an election, pay a deposit of roughly $90,000, and be backed by a party with at least 5,000 members.[Al Jazeera]
- The drafting of the text was carried out by the National Transitional Council, which took power following a November 26, 2025 military coup.[Al Jazeera]
- General Horta Inta-A Na Man was installed as transitional president following the coup, though transitional rules prohibit him and the transitional prime minister from running in the upcoming elections.[Al Jazeera]
- Presidential and legislative elections are currently scheduled for December 6, 2026.[Al Jazeera]
- The opposition party PAIGC has called for a boycott of the referendum.[Al Jazeera]
What remains uncertain
- It remains unknown whether the referendum will pass or how rejection of the proposal would affect the planned December elections.[Al Jazeera]