Voters in Guinea-Bissau have approved a new constitution through a referendum that grants the president substantial additional powers. The military government, which assumed control last November following a disputed election, organized the vote. According to provisional results from the electoral commission, approximately 70% of voters supported the constitutional changes, while 30% opposed them, with turnout reaching nearly 60%.
The new constitution fundamentally restructures the country’s semi-presidential system by granting the president authority to appoint and dismiss the prime minister and cabinet members, establish or eliminate ministerial positions, and dissolve parliament during periods of severe political crisis. Previously, the legislature held responsibility for selecting a prime minister from the parliamentary majority, who then assembled the cabinet. The military authorities contended that this arrangement had fostered ongoing political instability. The reforms also preserve the existing five-year presidential term length and two-term presidential limit.
The constitution implements additional structural changes including a reduction in parliamentary seats from 102 to 65 and a consolidation of electoral constituencies from 29 to 12. New eligibility criteria for presidential candidates have been introduced, requiring continuous residency in Guinea-Bissau for the five years preceding an election. The main opposition party, the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde, boycotted the referendum and urged supporters to do the same, warning that the changes concentrated excessive power in the presidency and threatened democratic institutions.
Guinea-Bissau has endured significant political instability, experiencing at least nine coup attempts and successful coups since independence from Portugal in 1974. The military takeover last November occurred following a disputed presidential election in which both the incumbent president and an opposition candidate claimed victory. The junta cited prevention of destabilization efforts allegedly involving drug trafficking interests. The country faces scheduled presidential and parliamentary elections in December, which the military authorities claim will restore civilian governance.
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