General elections are scheduled to be held in Guinea-Bissau on 23 November 2025 and 30 November 2025 to elect the president and members of the National People’s Assembly
Guinea-Bissau
Recent political events in Guinea-Bissau center on President Umaro Sissoco Embaló’s power consolidation and a constitutional crisis over his term and delayed elections. The opposition and civil society accuse him of increasing authoritarianism, while the international community, including ECOWAS, has struggled to mediate.
2.201M+
Population
100:96
Men-Women Ratio
19.1%
Women Representation
Overview
Guinea-Bissau gained independence in 1974, with Luís Cabral-brother of independence leader Amílcar Cabral, becoming its first president.
Guinea-Bissau operates under a semi-presidential system featuring a president and a prime minister, a unicameral National People’s Assembly, and an independent judiciary. Despite a multiparty structure, the nation’s politics remain highly unstable. The president is elected by absolute majority, with up to two five-year terms allowed (Election Guide, AP News, Reuters). Legislative seats are allocated through proportional representation in multi-member constituencies, along with a small diaspora representation.
Political transitions have been marked by recurring coups:
– 1980: General João Bernardo Vieira seized power from Luís Cabral in a bloodless coup
– 1998–99: A civil war led to Vieira’s ouster via military intervention.
– 2003: General Seabra led a coup removing President Kumba Ialá and installed a transitional government.
– 2012: Another coup disrupted elections and triggered a transitional administration.
Since 1994, Guinea-Bissau held multiple elections, but democratic consolidation has been weak, with presidents often unable to complete full terms due to instability. Recent years have seen continuing turmoil under President Umaro Sissoco Embaló who was elected in 2020. His term has been marred by dissent. He dissolved parliament in 2022, postponed elections, and faced coup attempts in 2022 and 2023.
In the June 2023 legislative elections, the opposition coalition PAI–Terra Ranka, led by PAIGC, won a majority in parliament, limiting Embaló’s push for constitutional reforms.
Upcoming Elections
November 30, 2025
General Elections
Completed
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Participation Metrics
Population (as of Feb. 8, 2019) – 2,105,570
Registered Voters (as of Sept. 4, 2025) – 966,152
Average Turnout – 74.32%
Key Electoral Institutions
Political parties and the National Assembly
Political parties and the National Assembly are crucial to the functioning of Mauritania’s electoral system, even though they are not direct management bodies. Political parties mobilize citizens, nominate candidates, and monitor elections through agents and observers. The National Assembly contributes by debating and enacting electoral laws, shaping the legal framework within which CENI and other institutions operate. Together, they provide democratic oversight and ensure political pluralism in the electoral environment.
Contact Information
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Constitutional Council
They serve as the highest judicial authority on electoral and constitutional matters in Mauritania. It validates and proclaims final election results, particularly for presidential and parliamentary elections, and confirms the eligibility of presidential candidates. The Council also adjudicates electoral disputes, ensuring that elections comply with the constitution and legal framework. Its rulings are final and binding, giving it a central role in safeguarding the integrity and legitimacy of electoral outcomes.
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Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI)
This is Mauritania’s principal body responsible for organizing and supervising all elections, including presidential, parliamentary, regional, and municipal polls. It operates as an autonomous institution mandated to ensure transparency, neutrality, and fairness in the electoral process. CENI oversees voter registration, monitors campaign conduct, manages the logistics of voting and counting, and announces provisional results. Its members are appointed through political consensus, typically representing both ruling and opposition parties, to reinforce public confidence and political balance.
Contact Information
- Headquarters: Commission Électorale Nationale Indépendante (CENI) of Mauritania
- Mailing Address: B.P. 4550, Nouakchott, Mauritania
- Hotline: +222 45 24 15 40
- Email: ceni@ceni.mr
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Direction Générale des Élections (DGE)
The DGE is the main new electoral management body in Guinea, created by decree in 2025. It is responsible for organising elections (both elections and referendums), maintaining and managing the electoral register, and guaranteeing aspects of electoral fairness. The DGE also represents Guinea in regional and international electoral organisations.
Contact Information
- Headquarters: Direction Générale des Élections (DGE)
- Mailing Address: Based in Conakry, Commune de Dixinn
- Hotline: +224 628 00 00 00
- Email: contact@dge.gov.gn
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Judiciary (Election Petitions)
The High Court of The Gambia hears election petitions. (Election Petition Rules 1976 govern the process.)
Contact Information
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Electoral Laws & Policies
1) Constitution of Guinea-Bissau
What it covers
Foundational framework for elections: eligibility, universal suffrage, terms of office, separation of powers, and basic civil rights that underpin electoral processes.
Typical content areas relevant to elections
Qualifications for candidacy
Ballot rights and secrecy
Roles of electoral bodies and courts
Dispute resolution and constitutional remedies
Where to find it
Official portals (Presidency, National Assembly) or national gazette
Portuguese text is standard
Common sources
Official government sites, national gazette repositories, or reputable NGO/think-tank summaries in PT with references to the full text
2) Electoral Law (Lei Eleitoral) / General Electoral Regime
What it covers
Voter registration and rolls
Candidate registration and eligibility
Electoral procedures (polling, vote counting, transmission of results)
Campaign rules and electoral conduct
Dispute resolution pathways for election-related issues
Language
Portuguese
Where to find itNE website or official decrees/gazettes
Parliament decrees or organic laws related to electoral administration
Typical hosting formats
PDFs of the law, annotated decrees, and circulars
3) Organic Law Establishing the National Electoral Commission (CNE)
What it covers
Legal basis, composition, powers, and responsibilities of the CNE
Procedures for accreditation of observers
Administrative framework for elections
Language
Portuguese
Where to find it
CNE site, Parliament portal, or official gazette
Notes
Essential for understanding how elections are governed and how accreditation is regulated
4) Regulations on Parties, Campaign Finance, and Public Order
What they cover
Registration and recognition of political parties
Campaign financing rules and financial disclosures
Public order and safety during electoral periods
Language
Portuguese
Where to find it
Parliament decrees, Ministry of Territorial Administration, or CNE circulars
Practical use
Important for observer context and compliance checks during campaigns
5) Electoral Dispute Resolution Provisions
What they cover
Dispute mechanisms for electoral challenges, recounts, and challenges to results
Roles of judicial bodies (e.g., Constitutional Court) in adjudicating disputes
Language
Portuguese
Where to find it
Constitutional Court or Supreme Court decisions, legal archives, and gazette publications
6) Voter Registration and Roll Management Regulations
What they cover
How voter lists are compiled, cleaned, updated, and validated
Eligibility checks and handling of changes (new voters, remove deceased, etc.)
Language
Portuguese
Where to find it
CNE announcements, official gazette, or decrees
7) Observer Accreditation Rules and Guidelines
What they cover
How international and domestic observers are accredited
Reporting requirements and code of conduct
Language
Portuguese
Where to find it
CNE notices or accredited observer coalitions’ portals
8) Election Calendar / Timelines
What they cover
Key dates for registration windows, campaigning periods, polling days, and counting timelines
Language
Portuguese
Where to find it
CNE calendars or official decrees
https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Guinea_Bissau_1996
Accredited Election Monitoring Organizations
Recent Election Publication
News & Updates
Election Result Platform
How To Monitor Elections In
Guinea-Bissau
Purpose
Promote transparency, credibility, and peaceful conduct in Guinea-Bissau’s elections (presidential, legislative, and local).
Key Actors
International observers (regional bodies, foreign missions, NGOs)
Domestic observers (Guinea-Bissau civil society coalitions)
Citizen observers (trained volunteers)
Media observers (press accreditation)
Accreditation and Legal Framework
Accreditation: Observers typically coordinate through the National Electoral Commission (CNE) or accredited observer coalitions recognized by CNE.
Legal basis: Observation is permitted under Guinea-Bissau electoral law; observers must follow accreditation rules, safety protocols, and non-interference guidelines.
Timelines: Accreditation windows open ahead of Election Day; apply via CNE or accredited coalitions.
Observer Tracks
International observers: Regional bodies (ECOWAS, AU), international NGOs, donor missions.
Domestic observers: Guinean CSOs and coalitions.
Citizen observers: Trained individuals/teams linked to networks.
Media observers: Journalists with official press accreditation.
Planning and Preparation
Join a recognized observer network or coalition; secure credentials.
Define scope: polling stations, counting centers, results transmission, or broader sampling with urban/rural balance.
Training: pre-election briefs on procedures, indicators, safety, and ethics.
Tools: standardized checklists, incident reporting templates, offline data capture options; photography where permitted.
On Election Day
At polling stations:
Verify accreditation; observe access, queues, secrecy of the vote, and procedure compliance.
Record anomalies: delays, voter intimidation, missing materials, misprinted ballots.
Counting and transmission:
Observe counting where allowed; document procedures and deviations.
Monitor results transmission; compare with official figures when possible.
Reporting:
Use approved templates; escalate issues through coalition channels or official liaison points.
Post-Election Activities
Preliminary report: concise overview of turnout, trends, and anomalies.
Verification: cross-check with official results and other observer reports.
Public engagement: brief communities, media, and stakeholders; provide channels for reporting irregularities.
Follow-up: contribute to post-election reviews and reforms.
Ethical Principles
Impartiality, non-interference, accuracy, safety, and data privacy.
Respect voters, officials, and fellow observers; avoid disrupting processes.
Timeline (Condensed)
6–12 months before: join coalition, plan accreditation.
3–6 months before: complete training; finalize deployment plan.
Weeks before: confirm sampling; arrange logistics.
Election Day: observe and report.
1–2 weeks after: publish preliminary findings; submit final report.
Resources (where to start)
Guinea-Bissau electoral authority: National Electoral Commission (CNE) or equivalent; look for accreditation guidelines.
Regional observers: ECOWAS, AU election missions; check their Guinea-Bissau liaison pages.
International partners: EU EOM, UNDP country programs, reputable NGOs.
Domestic CSOs: Guinea-Bissau observer coalitions and academic partners.