August 26, 2026
Military-run Guinea-Bissau holds a referendum on Sunday on a constitutional change that would give the president more powers ahead of a general election meant to restore civilian rule later this year.
It follows a string of other African countries including Zimbabwe and Chad that have amended their constitutions in recent years to extend term lengths, remove age limits or strengthen powers of the executive.
The army seized power in Portuguese-speaking Guinea-Bissau in November, just days after a presidential election, overthrowing the head of state and suspending the electoral process.
The ruling junta has since unanimously approved a constitutional amendment for the country to switch to a presidential system from a parliamentary one and now the public will be asked to back it.
