Provide Guinea-Bissau with a new constitution to strengthen the rule of law and stability

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies argues that Guinea-Bissau requires a new constitution to resolve chronic political instability and institutional deadlocks. It identifies critical ambiguities in the current semi-presidential regime—specifically regarding the powers of the President and Prime Minister—and proposes reforms based on models from Portugal and Cape Verde to strengthen the rule of law and democratic stability.

• The current semi-presidential regime in Guinea-Bissau is characterized by a lack of clarity regarding the delineation of powers and competencies of state organs, which has contributed to repeated political crises and institutional deadlocks.
• To reduce governmental instability, the brief recommends clarifying the criteria for the President's power to dismiss the government. Currently, the President can dismiss the government during a "serious crisis preventing the normal functioning of institutions," a provision the author suggests should be interpreted by the Supreme Court of Justice.
• The provision allowing the President to convene the Council of Ministers at his own convenience is viewed as a violation of the separation of powers. The brief proposes that the President should only preside over the Council at the invitation of the Prime Minister, citing Portuguese and Cape Verdean models.
• The brief proposes the creation of a dedicated Constitutional Court to review the constitutionality of laws and interpret legislation, arguing that the current system—where the Supreme Court handles these matters—lacks the necessary flexibility.
• The independence of the judiciary is currently undermined by the President's discretionary power to appoint and dismiss the Attorney General. The brief suggests introducing specific professional criteria for appointment, validation by the National Assembly, and a fixed term of office.
• The brief recommends constitutionalizing the National Electoral Commission (NEC) to protect the electoral framework from partisan influence and ensure the body has the necessary resources and independence to manage elections and referendums.

APA

Institute for Security Studies (2018). Provide Guinea-Bissau with a new constitution to strengthen the rule of law and stability. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/policybrief-guineabissau-1-eng.pdf

Chicago

Institute for Security Studies. Provide Guinea-Bissau with a new constitution to strengthen the rule of law and stability. 2018. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/policybrief-guineabissau-1-eng.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Institute for Security Studies |title=Provide Guinea-Bissau with a new constitution to strengthen the rule of law and stability |date=May 2018 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/policybrief-guineabissau-1-eng.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{instituteforsecuritystudies2018provide, author = {{Institute for Security Studies}}, title = {{Provide Guinea-Bissau with a new constitution to strengthen the rule of law and stability}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2018}, month = may, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/policybrief-guineabissau-1-eng.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }