Guinea-Bissau adopts constitution strengthening president’s authority

Guinea-Bissau has adopted a new constitution that notably increases the powers of the president, according to The Conversation Africa on October 9, 2026. Approved by 70% of voters in a referendum held on August 30, 2026, the constitution grants the president greater authority to appoint and dismiss the prime minister and places the president as head of the Council of Ministers.

This constitutional change occurs in a country with a history of chronic political instability since independence from Portugal in 1974, including five coups d’état since 1980. The previous semi-presidential system frequently caused tensions between the president, prime minister, and parliament, leading to repeated institutional crises.

The reform is intended by its promoters to end power struggles by clarifying executive responsibilities and strengthening presidential authority. However, the referendum was conducted under a military junta that seized power in a November 2025 coup, which has raised concerns about the legitimacy of the constitutional revision process.

The transitional authorities present the new constitution as a tool to ensure stability ahead of the planned return to civilian rule, with a presidential election scheduled for December 6, 2026. Opposition groups, including the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), criticized the referendum, citing restrictions on public freedoms and political tensions, and called for a boycott.

The new constitution defines the institutional framework for the post-transition period and reshapes the balance of power within Guinea-Bissau’s future republic, notably by enhancing presidential prerogatives and diminishing the role of the prime minister.