August 30 referendum in Guinea-Bissau: The National Electoral Council unveils preparations and rules of the game

One week before the public consultation on the new Constitution, Guinea-Bissau's National Electoral Commission (CNE) presented the logistical and legal details of the referendum. More than one million ballots have been delivered, but the campaign will be conducted without political parties, in accordance with the referendum law.

Election materials delivered despite obstacles

On Friday, August 21, 2026, the president of the National Electoral Council (CNE), Carme Isaura Batista Lobo, announced the receipt of 1,056,161 ballots and thousands of tally sheets necessary for counting and compiling the results. She praised the "transparency and rigor" of the process.

The director of INACEP, Lesmes Mutna Monteiro, acknowledged the difficulties encountered — machine breakdowns and ink shortages — but assured that the national printing office had fulfilled its strategic role: "All official state documents must be produced by INACEP, for reasons of security and accountability."

A citizens' campaign, without political parties

The referendum law formally excludes political parties from the election campaign. Only legally constituted citizen groups, validated by the Supreme Court of Justice, may promote the "YES" or "NO" options. These groups must have at least 2,000 members, with a minimum of 100 per region. This provision aims to strengthen direct citizen participation and limit the influence of party machines.

Organization and budget

The election will utilize 3,562 polling stations spread across 2,036 constituencies, for an estimated electorate of 914,428 registered voters. The diaspora is excluded, as the law stipulates that only residents may vote. The overall budget is estimated at nearly two billion CFA francs, of which 1.8 billion is allocated to logistics. Each polling station will consist of a presiding officer, a secretary, a poll worker, and delegates appointed by citizen groups.

The constitutional changes at stake

The draft new Constitution provides for the strengthening of the powers of the head of state and the reduction of the number of deputies from 102 to 65. The transitional authorities believe that these measures will improve parliamentary productivity and the quality of debates.

Observers and legal framework

The referendum law does not provide for the presence of international observers. However, in the event of an omission, it refers to the electoral law, which authorizes their participation. The National Electoral Council (CNE) therefore remains cautious on this point, leaving open the possibility of external supervision.

On August 30, 2026, voters in Guinea-Bissau will have to answer a crucial question: "Do you agree with the entry into force of the new Constitution of the Republic approved by the National Transitional Council?"

An election intended to be transparent and citizen-led, but whose exclusion of parties and the diaspora could fuel debates about its representativeness.