Ten months after a coup, military leaders say the referendum is designed to stabilise future civilian governments.
Published On 30 Aug 2026
Ballot counting is underway in Guinea-Bissau as voters decide on a constitutional change that would substantially increase presidential authority.
Citizens of the West African nation headed to the polls on Sunday to vote on a new constitution that would overhaul the country’s political system ahead of elections later this year.
Turnout exceeded 55 percent, and the poll proceeded “without any incidents that would call into question the credibility of the vote”, Idrissa Djalo, executive secretary of the National Electoral Commission, said at a news briefing on Sunday. Results are expected on Tuesday.
The referendum follows the military’s seizure of power in a coup that occurred less than ten months ago.
The military government says its aim is to stabilise institutions ahead of presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for December 6, which are intended to return power to a civilian administration.
The proposed constitution, put to citizens on Sunday, would shift Guinea‑Bissau from a parliamentary to a presidential system. It would eliminate the practice of selecting prime ministers from the parliamentary majority, a setup that has produced uneasy power‑sharing arrangements. Under the new framework, the head of state would gain authority to appoint and dismiss the prime minister and cabinet members, as well as to dissolve parliament.
On Sunday, voters answered “yes” or “no” to the question: “Do you agree with the entry into force of the new constitution approved by the National Transitional Council?”
“Our goal after this referendum is to ensure that whoever wins the upcoming elections can complete their term without interference,” said military leader and transitional President General Horta Inta‑A Na Man.
Under the transitional charter he upholds, Inta‑A Na Man is prohibited from running in the upcoming elections.
The referendum follows years of political turmoil. In the November 2025 presidential election, both candidates claimed victory and accused each other of interference, culminating in a coup the following day.
