Voters in Guinea-Bissau went to the polls on Sunday, August 30, in a constitutional referendum that could transfer substantially more authority to the presidency. The ballot is taking place under a military-led transition less than ten months after the November 2025 coup, and ahead of presidential and parliamentary elections that the authorities have scheduled for December 6 to restore civilian rule.
The proposed constitution would allow the president to appoint and dismiss the prime minister and cabinet, chair the Council of Ministers, and create or abolish ministries. Reuters reported, after reviewing the text, that the president could also dissolve parliament during a grave political crisis and dismiss the government in specified circumstances. Those changes would replace much of the power-sharing balance in the current semi-presidential system.
The plan would reduce the National People’s Assembly from 102 seats to 65 and cut electoral constituencies from 29 to 12. Transitional authorities say a smaller legislature would produce easier and more robust debate and that establishing the president’s authority over the prime minister would address a recurring source of institutional instability. Voters can select either yes or no on whether the constitution approved by the National Transitional Council should take effect.
The proposal also changes access to presidential contests. According to the Africa Center for Strategic Studies and IFES, candidates would need five years of continuous residence before an election and a deposit of 50 million West African CFA francs, approximately 90,000 dollars. A party sponsoring a candidate would need at least 5,000 members, including at least 300 in every region. The text would also establish a Constitutional Court.
Critics say the process concentrates excessive power in the executive and lacks broad consultation. Opposition figures have urged a boycott, while civil-society representatives cited by Euronews said the official campaign was dominated by supporters of approval. The Africa Center said the referendum follows Guinea-Bissau’s fifth military takeover since 1980 and warned that concentrating authority has historically contributed to politicisation of the armed forces and repeated military intervention.
The referendum follows the disputed November 2025 election, when former president Umaro Sissoco Embaló and opposition candidate Fernando Dias both claimed victory before the military seized power and halted the count. The outcome will determine the constitutional framework for the planned December vote. Authorities present that election as the end of the transition, while scrutiny will focus on participation, the credibility of the referendum result, and whether the promised civilian timetable holds.
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