Electoral authorities in Guinea-Bissau announced on Tuesday that voters have approved a referendum to significantly alter the nation's constitution. The results, released by the National Electoral Commission, show that 70% of participants supported the proposed changes, while 30% voted against them. The referendum, which took place last Sunday, aims to reshape the government structure ahead of the country's general elections scheduled for December, which are intended to mark a return to democracy.
The approved constitutional amendments include a reduction in the size of the legislature from 102 seats to 65. Additionally, the changes effectively weaken the role of the prime minister, who previously shared executive duties with the president in a semipresidential system. The ruling military government advocated for these adjustments, describing the former power-sharing arrangement as a persistent source of political instability.
Opposition parties had urged citizens to boycott the vote, arguing that the reforms would consolidate too much authority in the hands of the president. Guinea-Bissau, a nation of approximately 2.2 million people, has faced a turbulent political climate, marked by a series of coups since 2020. In November of last year, the country saw soldiers seize power following a disputed election, joining several other West African nations currently under military rule.
Despite being characterized by the World Bank as having the highest proportion of natural wealth per capita in West Africa, the country continues to struggle with poverty, with more than half of its population living below the poverty line.
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