G/Bissau junta urges restraint after referendum outcome

The military junta in Guinea-Bissau is calling for calm and national unity in the wake of the “Yes” vote victory.

Following the proclamation of the “Yes” after the August 30 constitutional referendum, Guinea-Bissau’s National Transitional Council (CNT) called on Wednesday for calm, respect for differing
opinions, and responsibility in implementing the constitutional reform.

The National Electoral Commission (CNE) announced the results of the vote on Tuesday, giving 383,117 votes to “Yes” and 160,904 to “No,” representing 70% and 30% of valid votes, respectively.

Of the 914,428 registered voters, 572,714 participated in the vote.

Reacting to this proclamation, the CNT called on supporters of the “Yes” vote not to succumb to triumphalism and to respect the citizens who voted against the reform.

The council believes that the majority’s victory should be seen as an “increased responsibility” rather than a “carte blanche.”

The National Transitional Council (NTC) emphasised that “the strength of a majority also reveals how it treats the minority,” calling for a gradual overcoming of the division between “Yes” and “No” voters.

For the council, the country belongs to all Bissau-Guineans, regardless of their beliefs or their choice in the referendum. It therefore urges the various political actors to prioritise national
cohesion and to frame this new institutional phase within a framework of unity.

The NTC also believes that “stability,” which was the main argument put forward during the “Yes” campaign, now becomes a responsibility that must be translated into action. This responsibility must be demonstrated, in particular, through the functioning of institutions, respect for the rule of law, public safety, the continuation of reforms, and political dialogue.

The CNT statement comes as the National Electoral Commission (CNE) confirmed the victory of the “Yes” vote in eight regions: Tombali, Quinara, Oio, Biombo, Bolama-Bijagós, Bafatá, Gabú, and Cacheu. In Bissau, however, the “No” vote prevailed with 64,241 votes against 58,957 for “Yes.”

The CNT also calls for a cautious interpretation of the results, given the significant disparities in voter turnout between regions. It believes that abstention should not be automatically attributed to a single cause and calls for a rigorous analysis of voter behaviour.

The adoption of the constitutional reform opens a new institutional chapter in Guinea-Bissau. The new framework notably includes a strengthening of the president’s  prerogatives in the exercise of executive power and a redefinition of the roles of the Prime Minister and Parliament.

For the CNT, the challenge now is to transform the result of the referendum into institutional and
political stability, while preserving the cohesion of the country.

AC/fss/as/APA