Guinea opens campaigning this weekend for a constitutional referendum under fresh media guidelines that require broadcasters to give equal airtime to supporters and opponents, while barring appearances by entities not formally recognized or in legal dispute with the state. Private outlets are also prohibited from hosting interactive call-in shows on the vote, drawing protests from the national press union.
The campaign runs Aug 31–Sept 18, ahead of a Sept 21 ballot that coincides with the fourth anniversary of the 2021 CNRD coup. Guinea’s transitional authorities missed a pledged end-2024 handover to elected rule, deepening worries about the direction of the transition.
According to the current draft, presidential terms would shift from five to seven years, renewable once; a clause limiting any person to two terms over a lifetime has been dropped. The text would also establish a Senate, with one-third of members appointed by the head of state.
Political space has narrowed ahead of the vote: the junta recently suspended several major opposition parties and news organizations report broader curbs on coverage, moves criticized by press-freedom advocates.