Constitutional Referendum Under Fire: Guinea-Bissau’s main opposition PAIGC is calling for a boycott of the 30 August constitutional referendum, arguing parties were excluded and that the process is set up to be rigged; the vote would decide whether amendments approved by the National Transitional Council enter into force after the November coup and the suspension of the electoral process. Public Debate Demands: Civil society groups say it is “not enough” to ask citizens to vote yes or no, urging clear information, civic education, and a transparent, inclusive public debate, while warning the referendum’s legality is questionable and calling for credible elections to restore constitutional normality. Political Violence Spotlight: A Reuters report revisits the March killing of opposition rapper Vigario Luis Balanta, saying his movement’s leaders have gone underground as they try to break the cycle of coups and violence under military rule. Health Alert—Mpox: UNICEF warns Guinea-Bissau’s first mpox outbreak is a major public health event, with half of 46 suspected cases among children and surveillance described as fragile, as schools reopen in September. Regional Security Diplomacy: Russia’s Lavrov and Ghana’s foreign minister Ablakwa say they agreed measures to normalize relations between ECOWAS and the Sahel’s AES, with security and counterterrorism in the Sahara-Sahel a key focus. US Port Security Watchlist: The US Coast Guard says 22 countries remain on its port security advisory list, including Guinea-Bissau, after finding ports are not maintaining effective anti-terror measures. Trade & Economy: Guinea-Bissau reports exporting about 200,000 tonnes of cashew nuts so far this season, with port dredging planned for October to speed shipments.