Cape Verde Launching ‘Registry of Promises’ for Elections
Ahead of Cape Verde’s municipal elections on December 1, a prominent civil society organization has announced a bold initiative to hold politicians accountable: a permanent “registry of promises.”
Tracking the Campaign Trail
The Cape Verdean Civil Society Forum (Forum-CV) announced on Thursday that it will document every commitment made by candidates during the 2024 campaign. This record will serve as a roadmap for the 2024–2028 mandate, allowing the organization to monitor whether winners in each of the country’s 22 municipalities actually deliver on their words.
“Forum-CV will proceed with the registration of all promises and commitments,” the group stated in a newly released manifesto. The registry is designed to transform civil society into a “vigilance agent,” ensuring that the democratic process extends far beyond the ballot box.
A Call for Urgent Reforms
Beyond tracking promises, the Forum’s manifesto outlines a series of critical demands for the next generation of local leaders. Chief among these is the urgent need for decent housing. The group pointed to the rise of clandestine or informal constructions in urban centers as a symptom of a growing housing crisis, particularly for low-income residents.
The manifesto also advocates for:
- Participatory Budgeting: Ensuring residents have a direct say in how municipal funds are spent.
- Codes of Conduct: Establishing strict municipal rules to maintain public cleanliness and respect for shared spaces.
- Stronger Civic Engagement: Inviting candidates to sign on to these measures as a show of good faith.
Declining Competitiveness Sparks Concern
This year’s election cycle arrives amid growing concerns over a thinning political field. Only 10 entities are competing this year—five political parties and five independent citizen movements. This is a significant drop from the 16 groups that ran four years ago.
Maria do Rosário Pereira, president of the National Elections Commission (CNE), warned that the lack of independent movements could hurt voters. “This represents a decrease in the electoral competitiveness that citizens need to make a choice,” Pereira said, adding that it highlights a need to “strengthen the democratic fabric” to avoid political setbacks.
The Election Landscape
Approximately 352,000 voters are registered for the December 1 polls, with roughly half of the electorate concentrated in the heavy-hitting municipalities of Praia (the capital), São Vicente, and Santa Catarina.
The current local government map is dominated by the Movement for Democracy (MpD), which holds 14 municipalities. The African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV) holds the remaining eight. As the campaign heats up, Forum-CV’s new tracking system aims to ensure that regardless of which party wins, the people’s needs remain the priority.
Image: Pexels – Sora Shimazaki
