Guinea-Bissau Sets August Constitutional Referendum

Guinea-Bissau’s transitional government has announced a nationwide constitutional referendum for August 30, 2026. The referendum is part of plans to adopt a new constitution that would expand presidential powers.

The referendum follows the military takeover in November 2025, which occurred days after a disputed presidential election. Since taking power, the transitional authorities have pursued constitutional reforms to replace the country’s parliamentary system with a presidential model.

The proposed constitution provides for the president to appoint the prime minister and cabinet ministers and to dissolve parliament. Reform supporters say they would bolster political stability by reducing recurrent disagreements between coalition governments.

The government said the Supreme Court had cleared the referendum proposal before Transitional President General Horta N’Tam formally set the August 30 voting date by a government decree.

The transitional authorities also said General Horta N’Tam would not be eligible to run in the presidential election planned for December 6, 2026, when civilian rule is expected to be restored. Voters have not yet approved the proposed changes to the constitution.

Since independence, Guinea-Bissau has been plagued by constitutional crises, coups and political instability. Former president Umaro Sissoco Embaló was ousted in 2025 after ruling largely by decree following the dissolution of the opposition-controlled parliament in December 2023.

SOURCE: AFP