Guinea-Bissau Opposition Claims 90% Abstention in Referendum
Opposition groups in Guinea-Bissau have declared Sunday’s constitutional referendum a “total failure,” claiming a massive voter boycott reflects a widespread rejection of the military regime currently in power.
In a joint statement, the major opposition coalitions—PAI-Terra Ranka, API-Cabas Garandi, and the Firkidja di Pubis movement—asserted that voter abstention exceeded 90%. They interpreted the empty polling stations as a “positive response” to their calls for a boycott against a consultation they deem illegitimate.
Conflicting Turnout Figures
The opposition’s claims stand in stark contrast to the official narrative. Idriça Djaló, spokesperson for Guinea-Bissau’s National Elections Commission (CNE), announced on Sunday that turnout had surpassed 50%. However, the opposition maintains that participation was below 10% in every region of the country, describing the process as a “sham” characterized by restricted public freedoms and a total lack of independent oversight.
“This boycott must be understood as a manifestation of civic and political conscience,” the coalitions stated. “The major decisions regarding the future of Guinea-Bissau cannot be imposed by a restricted group of people.”
A Mandate Against Military Rule
The referendum was organized by the military authorities who seized power during a coup d’état on November 26, 2025. The new Constitution, drafted by a military-appointed National Transition Council, seeks to significantly strengthen the powers of the Head of State.
Opposition leaders argue that the “silence of the ballot boxes” proves that the Bissau-Guinean people refuse to recognize the authority of the Military High Command. Firkidja di Pubis, a prominent political movement, stated that the populace remained faithful to the democratic will expressed just days before the coup, despite “pressure and intimidation.”
Fears of a “Ruse” to Delay Elections
The political climate remains tense as the country approaches scheduled presidential and legislative elections on December 6. PAI-Terra Ranka and API-Cabas Garandi warned that the regime might use the referendum results as a “ruse to postpone” these elections, cautioning that forcing through a new Constitution would only deepen the nation’s political and institutional crisis.
The opposition characterized the November 2025 coup as a “ceremonial” move designed to allow ousted President-elect Umaro Sissoco Embaló to return to power under a new, more powerful legal framework.
Calls for International Intervention
Demanding an end to the “authoritarian drift,” the opposition is calling for an inclusive dialogue involving all national actors and civil society to restore constitutional order. They have also urged international bodies—including the United Nations, the African Union, ECOWAS, and the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP)—to acknowledge the rejection of the referendum and support the struggle for democracy in Guinea-Bissau.
Image: Pexels – David Iloba
