2020 Guinean constitutional referendum

The constitutional amendments include:

• Changing the presidential term of office from five to six years, and resetting the current term count for the purposes of term limits of the incumbent president
• Banning female genital mutilation
• Banning under-age and forced marriage
• Giving spouses equal rights in a divorce
• Stating that no one gender would make up more than two-thirds of government institutions[2]
• Fairer distribution of wealth in favour of young people and the poor[3]
• Lowering the parliamentary age of candidacy to 18-years-old

The constitutional referendum was originally scheduled to be on 1 March 2020. However it was pushed back as international observers raised concerns about electoral register. The African Union cancelled an electoral observations mission, citing major issues with the poll. The European Union also highlighted its doubt on the poll's credibility.

As a consequence, the authorities removed over 2.5 million unverifiable names (out of a total of 7.7 million names) from the register in line with the advice of the Economic Community of West African States after they were identified by Organisation internationale de la Francophonie. The unverifiable names were mostly concentrated in the region where president Alpha Condé had significant support.[4]

Prior to the vote Mike Pompeo, United States Secretary of State, said "We question whether the process will be free, fair and transparent and accurately reflect the will of all eligible voters. We urge all parties to engage in nonviolent civil dialogue." The United States government also called on authorities to allow peaceful demonstrations while asking opposition to refrain from violence.[5] The British government argued the Government of Guinea to respect democratic institutions and all forms of human rights including the right to peaceful protest, as well as encouraging all parties to engage in constructive dialogue and refrain from using violence. The UK as well called upon the government to ensure the elections and referendum would be conducted in a fair and transparent way. [6]

Preliminary results showed that the new constitution received almost 90% of votes in favor amid a full boycott by opposition parties. Turnout was around 58%. The Constitutional Court made public the final results on 3 April, and proclaimed the new constitution adopted by an absolute majority of voters.

After the referendum results were announced, protesters went out to the streets again, as with protesting before the referendum, and torched cars, as well as setting up barricades.[13]

Mohamed Ibn Chambas, United Nations special representative to West Africa, released a statement highlighting that the following developments were with great concern.[14] António Guterres, UN Secretary-General, called for a constructive dialogue between the Government, the opposition and civil society.[15] The French government condemned the related violence and said that the vote was not credible.