Full Breakdown
Guinea-Bissau Military Junta Schedules Referendum on Expanded Presidential Powers
8/30/2026, 2:30:38 AM
Core Event: Referendum on a New Constitution Set for August 30
The transitional authorities that emerged from the November 26 2025 military coup will hold a national referendum on August 30 to decide whether a draft constitution approved by the National Transitional Council on January 13 2026 becomes law. The text would give the president authority to appoint and dismiss the prime minister and cabinet members, chair the Council of Ministers, create or abolish ministries, and dissolve parliament. It also reduces the size of parliament from 102 seats to 65 and cuts electoral constituencies from 29 to 12.
Background & Context
The coup on November 26 2025 interrupted presidential and legislative elections held three days earlier. General Horta Inta-A Na Man, then army chief of staff, was installed as transitional president. A National Transitional Council (CNT) was created with legislative powers and, on January 13 2026, approved the draft constitution now being put to a vote. Guinea-Bissau has a history of coups and institutional disputes since its 1974 independence from Portugal.
Key Changes Proposed (Data & Statistics)
- Parliamentary size: 102 -> 65 seats.
- Electoral constituencies: 29 -> 12.
- Presidential residency requirement: five continuous years in Guinea-Bissau.
- Financial deposit for presidential candidates: 50 million CFA francs (? US $90,000).
- Party membership threshold: at least 5,000 members, including 300 in each region.
- Presidential powers: appointment/dismissal of the prime minister and ministers, chairing the Council of Ministers, authority to create or abolish ministries, and power to dissolve parliament in a grave political crisis.
Official Statements & Responses
- General Horta Inta-A Na Man said the referendum is not intended to secure his personal political future, noting that the transitional charter bars the transitional president and prime minister from running in the December elections.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This constitutional revision has done away with that chapter, which is absurd, strange and extremely dangerous for the rule of law and for democracy," says Turé.” — Turé.
Why It Matters / Impact
The referendum precedes the presidential and legislative elections scheduled for December 6, meaning the next elected president and parliament would operate under rules drafted by a military-led transition. Proponents argue a stronger presidency could “provide clearer lines of authority.” Opponents say concentrating executive power threatens parliamentary oversight and may enable the transitional president to influence the post-transition government despite formal bans on his candidacy. The outcome also affects Guinea-Bissau’s standing with regional bodies; the country remains suspended from ECOWAS, the African Union, and the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP) following the coup.
Timeline
- November 26 2025 – Military coup interrupts pending election results.
- January 13 2026 – National Transitional Council approves the draft constitution.
- July 10 – PAIGC leader Domingos Simões Pereira arrested again after house-arrest period.
- August 30 – Scheduled referendum on the new constitution.
- December 6 – Scheduled presidential and legislative elections intended to restore civilian rule.
What’s Next
If voters approve the draft on August 30, the constitution will enter force before the December 6 elections, establishing a stronger presidency and a smaller parliament. A “no” vote would leave the reform unresolved, preserving the existing semi-presidential system and prompting the transitional authorities to seek an alternative path toward civilian governance. Both outcomes will shape Guinea-Bissau’s political trajectory and its relations with regional and international partners.
