Vote counting is underway in Guinea-Bissau's referendum, where voters cast ballots on Sunday over a new constitution that could greatly enhance the president's powers.
According to the National Election Commission, voter turnout exceeded 55 percent, and the ballot took place without any incidents that could cast doubt on the authenticity of the ballots. Results are expected to be announced on Tuesday.
The referendum comes less than 10 months after the military seized power in a coup. The military government has stated it aims to stabilize institutions ahead of the presidential and legislative elections slated for December 6, with the goal of handing over power to a civilian administration.
The new constitution, if approved by voters, would transition Guinea-Bissau's political system from a parliamentary to a presidential model. It would also remove the requirement that the prime minister come from the parliamentary majority, a provision that had previously led to unstable power-sharing arrangements.
Under the new constitution, the head of state would have the authority to appoint and dismiss the prime minister and government members, as well as dissolve the parliament.
Voters in Guinea-Bissau answered "yes" or "no" to the question: "Do you agree with the enactment of the new constitution adopted by the National Transition Council?"
"What we hope for after this referendum is that whoever wins can complete their term without obstacles," said transitional President, Brigadier General Horta Inta-A Na Man. Under the transitional charter, Inta-A Na Man is barred from running in elections.
The referendum took place amid years of political instability in Guinea-Bissau. In the November 2025 presidential election, both candidates declared victory and accused the other of electoral interference. The coup occurred one day later.
