New constitution in Guinea-Bissau will undermine democracy, opponents say

Guinean voters approved a new constitution in a Sunday referendum, with provisional figures showing about 70 percent support and a turnout exceeding 55 percent, roughly 544,060 participants. The amendment, the country’s first since the early‑1990s reforms that ended its one‑party socialist era, slashes the National Assembly from 102 to 65 seats and consolidates electoral districts from 29 to 12. It also introduces a residency requirement that presidential hopefuls must have lived continuously in Guinea‑Bissau for at least five years before the election, a clause widely interpreted as aimed at diaspora politicians. The vote comes as the nation prepares for presidential elections scheduled for December, following a disputed November poll in which both contenders claimed victory and the military intervened, installing a transitional ruling council led by General Horta Inta‑A Na Man.

Supporters of the charter argue it will stabilize a political system long plagued by coups and contested elections; the council’s second vice‑president, Nelson Moreira, said the existing 1993 constitution had repeatedly been blamed for the country’s instability. By tightening candidate eligibility and reducing parliamentary representation, the new rules are intended to streamline governance and prevent fragmented legislatures that have historically hindered decisive leadership. Proponents contend the changes will allow the eventual election winner to serve a full term without obstruction, addressing the power vacuum that followed the November crisis.

Opposition forces, however, denounce the referendum as a “democratic farce” that entrenches authoritarian rule. The African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), barred from nominating a presidential candidate for the 2025 race, urged a boycott and warned that the August 30 vote merely extends the November 26 coup. Its leader, Domingos Simões Pereira, warned that the new constitution will undermine democracy by concentrating power in the presidency and marginalizing dissenting voices, raising concerns that the upcoming December elections may be conducted under a framework that limits genuine competition and representation.

⚡ Effects Interpreter