Vote Counting Begins in Guinea-Bissau After Referendum on Expanding Presidential Powers

Ballot counting is officially underway in Guinea-Bissau following a high-stakes constitutional referendum designed to significantly expand the powers of the presidency. Citizens across the West African nation headed to the polls on Sunday to vote on a sweeping political system overhaul ahead of scheduled elections later this year.

According to Idrissa Djalo, executive secretary of the National Electoral Commission, voter turnout surpassed 55 percent. Djalo noted during a Sunday news briefing that the voting process proceeded without any incidents that might compromise the credibility of the election, with official results anticipated by Tuesday.

The referendum arrives less than 10 months after the military took power in a coup. The military government stated that the constitutional changes are necessary to stabilize national institutions prior to the presidential and parliamentary elections set for December 6, which are intended to restore power to a civilian government.

Under the proposed new constitution presented to voters, Guinea-Bissau would transition from a parliamentary system to a presidential one. The reform eliminates the previous model where prime ministers were selected from the parliamentary majority—a framework that frequently created difficult power-sharing dynamics. Instead, the new system grants the head of state the authority to appoint and dismiss the prime minister and government members, as well as the power to dissolve parliament.

Voters on Sunday cast "yes" or "no" ballots in response to the question: "Do you agree with the entry into force of the new constitution approved by the National Transitional Council?"

Military leader and transitional President General Horta Inta-A Na Man emphasized the goal of the vote, stating, "What we want after this referendum is to allow whoever wins the elections to see out their mandate without hindrance." Under the transitional charter, General Horta Inta-A Na Man is prohibited from running in the upcoming elections.

This referendum comes in the wake of prolonged political instability. Following the November 2025 presidential election, both candidates claimed victory and accused one another of interfering with the electoral process, prompting the military coup just one day later.