Guinea-Bissau junta to hold constitutional referendum August 30

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Military-run Guinea-Bissau will hold a referendum later this year on whether to approve a constitutional change giving the president more powers, according to a government decree published on Monday.

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The army seized power of the coastal west African nation in November 2025, just days after a presidential election, overthrowing the head of state and suspending the electoral process.

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The ruling junta has since unanimously approved a constitutional amendment for the country to switch to a presidential system from a parliamentary one.

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That would allow the head of state to appoint the prime minister and members of the government, and to dissolve parliament.

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New presidential and parliamentary elections designed to restore civilian rule are due to be held on December 6. But the public will first be asked whether they agree with the change to the constitution.

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“Considering the proposal for a national referendum for which the Supreme Court has issued a favourable opinion, the transitional president, General Horta N’Tam, has set (the date) for August 30, 2026,” the decree stated.

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N’Tam will not be allowed to run for president, the junta said in December 2025.

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Guinea-Bissau has witnessed five military takeovers and a string of attempted coups since it gained independence from Portugal in 1974.

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Until now, the prime minister came from the parliamentary majority but that led to difficult periods of coalition governments.

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Umaro Sissoco Embalo, who was ousted in 2025, ruled by decree until his removal, after dissolving the opposition-dominated parliament in December 2023.

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AFP

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