Voters in Guinea-Bissau have approved constitutional changes that significantly expand the powers of the president ahead of general elections scheduled for December.
The National Electoral Commission said Tuesday that 70% of votes cast in last week’s referendum supported the changes, with turnout approaching 60%.
The referendum was proposed by the military government that seized power in a November 2025 coup and is aimed at paving 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 cabinet, weakening the country’s existing power-sharing system.
The president will also be empowered to create or abolish ministries and dissolve parliament under certain conditions.
The changes remove some powers previously held by the prime minister, who currently oversees day-to-day government affairs and is elected by parliament.
The number of parliamentary seats will also be reduced from 102 to 65, while electoral constituencies will be cut from 29 to 12.
The referendum has been rejected by the main opposition party, PAIGC, and civil society groups, which say the changes could undermine the country’s transition to democracy.
PAIGC had called for a boycott of the vote, while international news agencies reported that many polling stations appeared largely empty despite the electoral commission’s reported turnout.
Military authorities have defended the constitutional changes, saying they are necessary to strengthen and stabilize state institutions ahead of the December elections, when voters are expected to elect a president and parliament.
Critics, however, accuse the military government of seeking to concentrate power and reshape the political system to its advantage before the elections.
The developments come amid a wider wave of military takeovers across West and Central Africa, where nine coups have occurred since 2020.
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