Voters in Guinea-Bissau have approved a new constitution that significantly expands presidential powers, according to provisional results announced by the country's electoral commission. The referendum was organised by the military government that took power in November 2025 following a disputed election.
The approved reforms grant the president authority to appoint and dismiss the prime minister and cabinet, create or abolish ministries, and dissolve parliament in the event of a grave political crisis. This alters the balance of power in Guinea-Bissau's semi-presidential system, which previously saw the legislature appoint a prime minister from the parliamentary majority.
Provisional results from Sunday's referendum showed 70% of voters supported the changes, with 30% voting against them. Turnout was reported at nearly 60%. The main opposition party, the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), boycotted the vote, warning that the changes risked concentrating too much power in the presidency.
The new constitution also reduces the number of parliamentary seats from 102 to 65 and electoral constituencies from 29 to 12. It introduces new eligibility requirements for presidential candidates, including a provision requiring continuous residency in Guinea-Bissau for five years prior to an election.