The people of Guinea-Bissau voted on Sunday in a referendum to decide whether to give the president new powers under a proposed constitutional amendment that would switch the country from a parliamentary to a presidential system. The amendment, approved by the junta, would allow the president to appoint and dismiss the prime minister and dissolve parliament. If passed, the change would result in a reduction of 37 seats in parliament from 102 to 65. The opposition has urged voters to boycott the referendum, calling it a "source of political instability at all levels".
Written by the local model on 2026-08-31,
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Story summary
Guinea-Bissau, a small West African country with 2.2 million people, is transitioning from military rule to democracy after a disputed election in November. On Sunday, voters went to the polls for a referendum on whether to give the president new powers. The proposed constitutional amendment would switch the country's system from parliamentary to presidential, allowing the president to appoint and dismiss the prime minister and dissolve parliament. If passed, it would reduce the number of seats in parliament from 102 to 65. However, opposition groups have called for a boycott, saying the referendum will allow the military leader to consolidate power.
Written for “Guinea-Bissau Presidential Elections” on 2026-08-31,
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Leaning score +0.35 for article 3293 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-08-31
Guinea-Bissau voted on Sunday in a referendum on whether to give the president new powers as the country prepares to transition from military to democratic rule.
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country → vote → rule
According to the Associated Press, many polling stations had low turnout after the opposition urged voters to boycott the referendum.
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opposition → accord → referendum
The tiny West African nation of around 2.2 million people has been under army rule since last November following a disputed election.
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nation → follow → election
What will the referendum decide?
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referendum → decide → What
Guinea-Bissau's junta has unanimously approved a constitutional amendment to switch the country from what it frames as a parliamentary to a presidential system.
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it → approve → system
This means abandoning the old system where the prime minister came from the parliamentary majority.
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minister → mean → majority
The amendment would allow the president to appoint and dismiss the prime minister and dissolve parliament.
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president → allow → parliament
If passed, the new constitution will cut the number of seats in parliament from 102 to 65.
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constitution → pass → 65
The junta says the change seeks to stabilize institutions before new presidential and parliamentary elections, scheduled for December 6, which are meant to hand power back to civilians.
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which → say → civilians
Opposition groups, however, have urged the public to boycott the vote, saying it will allow the junta leader to cement power and calling it a "source of political instability at all levels."
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leader → urge → levels
Polls close at 1700 GMT on Sunday, with the first provisional results due from Tuesday.
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results → close → Tuesday
One of the world's poorest countries, Guinea-Bissau has experienced five coups and a series of attempted coups since 1974.
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Bissau → experience → 1974
A military government seized power in November following a disputed election in which former President Umaro Sissoco Embalo and opposition candidate Fernando Dias both claimed victory.
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Embalo → seize → victory
After legislative elections in 2023, Embalo himself dissolved the opposition-dominated parliament in response to what he described as an attempted coup.
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he → dissolve → coup
Edited by: Natalie Muller
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you → edit → news
