Guinea-Bissau is scheduled to hold a referendum on Sunday, August 30, 2026, to vote on a new constitution that would notably expand the powers of the presidency and reshape the country's political system. This vote comes less than a year after military officers seized power in a coup, which occurred just one day before electoral authorities were set to announce the results of a presidential election.
Under the proposed constitution, the president would gain the authority to appoint and dismiss the prime minister and cabinet, create or abolish ministries, and chair the Council of Ministers. Additionally, the president could dissolve parliament in the event of a grave political crisis and dismiss the government under certain circumstances. The reform would also reduce the size of parliament from 102 seats to 65 and decrease the number of electoral constituencies from 29 to 12.
Manuel Nobre de Barros, a professor at Lusofona University in Guinea-Bissau, stated that these reforms would fundamentally alter the balance between the executive and legislature, potentially granting the president virtually unchecked power.
The referendum will be followed by general elections in December 2026. The vote is being closely watched as Guinea-Bissau attempts to transition from military rule back to an elected government, amid debates on whether the constitutional changes will strengthen democratic institutions or concentrate power at the top.
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