Guinea-Bissau: The August 30 referendum described as a "failure" by the opposition

The Inclusive Alliance Platform–Terra Ranka (PAI-TR) and the Inclusive Patriotic Alliance–Cabaz Garandi (API-CG) categorically reject the constitutional referendum of August 30, 2026. In a joint statement, they denounce an “illegitimate” consultation marked by a participation deemed insignificant and call for the urgent opening of an inclusive dialogue to restore constitutional order.

The opposition's verdict is unequivocal: the referendum called by the transitional authorities is a "political and institutional failure".

Signed by António Samba Baldé for the PAI-TR and Jorge Fernandes for the API-CG, the joint declaration accuses the National Transitional Council of having organized a consultation "against the will of the people" and in violation of democratic principles.

The two platforms recall that they had called for a boycott of the election, denouncing the lack of legitimacy of the authorities, the restrictions imposed on public freedoms, the exclusion of political parties and civil society organizations, as well as the impossibility of independent control.

According to them, the low voter turnout observed in all regions of the country confirms the popular rejection of the process. "The boycott must be understood as a manifestation of civic and political awareness," the statement emphasizes, adding that the constitutional future of Guinea-Bissau cannot be decided by a small circle nor legitimized by a unilateral process.

The platforms draw three major conclusions:

The rejection of reforms: the low participation reflects a refusal of the changes imposed by the regime; the need for consensus: the Constitution must result from a national agreement and not from a unilateral will; the responsibility of the institutions: the transitional bodies must learn from this failure and abandon initiatives doomed to failure.

The PAI-TR and API-CG state that they do not recognize the legitimacy of a process that lacks the political conditions necessary for building a national consensus. They warn that imposing the new Constitution on a largely opposed population could exacerbate the political and institutional crisis.

In a solemn appeal, they urge national actors to place the nation's best interests above immediate political calculations. "It is urgent to halt the slide towards authoritarianism and open a new opportunity for inclusive political dialogue," the statement concludes, advocating for a process capable of restoring trust among the people of Guinea-Bissau and normalizing constitutional order.