Guinea-Bissau Opposition Boycotts ‘Sham’ Referendum
A coalition of major political parties and civil rights organizations in Guinea-Bissau has called for a “total boycott” of Sunday’s constitutional referendum, branding the vote an “authentic sham” designed to legitimize a military coup.
A ‘Pseudo-Referendum’ Under Fire
The Frente Única (United Front) platform—which includes the PAI Terra-Ranka coalition, the country’s largest trade union, and several political movements—issued a scathing statement on Friday. The group urged citizens to stay home and reject what they describe as a “pseudo-referendum” orchestrated by a “failed and totally lost regime.”
According to the opposition, the vote is an attempt by the current authorities to legalize the events of November 26, 2025. On that day, the military seized power, interrupting the counting process for a presidential election that the opposition claims was won by candidate Fernando Dias da Costa. The opposition has long characterized the military intervention as a “palace coup” staged to keep former President Umaro Sissoco Embaló in power.
A Push for Consolidated Power
The new constitution, drafted by a military-backed National Transition Council (CNT), proposes significant changes to Guinea-Bissau’s political landscape. Key amendments include:
- Increased Executive Power: Strengthening the role of the President at the expense of other branches.
- Reduced Representation: Cutting the number of parliamentary seats from 102 down to 65.
- Disenfranchising the Diaspora: Stripping Bissau-Guineans living abroad of their right to vote in presidential elections, limiting them only to legislative contests.
“Participating in a referendum to adopt a Constitution already approved and published by illegitimate entities would be a tacit political recognition of the group that has orchestrated coups for the last 10 years,” the platform stated. They further highlighted a climate of “kidnappings, beatings, and the suppression of fundamental freedoms” as proof that a fair democratic consultation is impossible.
Political Tension Ahead of December Elections
The boycott call was echoed by Domingos Simões Pereira, leader of the PAIGC and the elected president of the Bissau-Guinean Parliament. He joined the chorus of voices arguing that a constitutional charter is only valid when crafted by the people’s legitimate representatives, rather than a transitional council installed by force.
The referendum comes just three months before general elections scheduled for December 6. Local reports indicate that only citizens within the country—roughly 914,000 voters—will be permitted to participate on Sunday, as the diaspora has been excluded from this process.
Since August 2025, the Bissau-Guinean government has suspended the operations of Portuguese media outlets within the country, forcing international agencies like Lusa to cover the escalating political crisis remotely.
Image: Pexels – Markus Spiske
