Cape Verde Watchdog to Track 2024 Election Promises
As Cape Verde prepares for municipal elections on December 1, a prominent civil society organization is taking steps to ensure that political rhetoric translates into real-world action. The Cape Verdean Civil Society Forum (Forum-CV) announced on Thursday that it will systematically record every promise made by candidates during the 2024 campaign to hold the winners accountable.
A “Mandate of Monitoring”
According to a manifesto released by the group, this registry will serve as a living document throughout the 2024–2028 term. By tracking commitments across all 22 of the nation’s municipalities, Forum-CV aims to transform the role of the public from passive observers into active monitors of local government performance.
“Forum-CV announces that it will proceed with the registration of all promises and commitments made by candidates,” the document states, emphasizing that the organization stands ready to cooperate with elected officials while remaining a vigilant watchdog.
Prioritizing Housing and Transparency
Beyond tracking campaign pledges, the Forum’s manifesto outlines several urgent priorities for the Atlantic archipelago. Chief among these is the demand for access to decent housing, particularly for low-income residents. The group highlighted the rise of clandestine constructions in urban centers as a visible symptom of a housing crisis that requires immediate attention from local leaders.
The Forum is also calling for broader democratic reforms at the local level, including:
- The implementation of participatory budgets in every municipality to give citizens a direct say in spending.
- The creation of municipal codes of conduct to improve public cleanliness and the preservation of communal spaces.
- Strengthened cooperation between local governments and civil society organizations.
Concerns Over Shrinking Competition
The Forum’s initiative arrives at a time of shifting political dynamics in Cape Verde. Officials have noted a significant drop in the number of independent citizen movements participating in this election cycle. Only ten political forces—comprising five parties and five citizen movements—are competing this year, a sharp decline from the 16 groups that ran four years ago.
Maria do Rosário Pereira, President of the National Elections Commission (CNE), expressed concern over the trend. “This represents a decrease in the electoral competitiveness that citizens need to make a choice,” she said, suggesting that the nation’s democratic fabric may need strengthening to avoid a political setback.
The Electoral Landscape
Approximately 352,000 voters are registered for the upcoming polls, with the majority concentrated in the capital, Praia, as well as the municipalities of São Vicente and Santa Catarina.
The governing Movement for Democracy (MpD) currently dominates the local political map, holding 14 municipalities. The opposition African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV) holds the remaining eight. As the December 1 vote approaches, Forum-CV’s new “promise tracker” aims to ensure that regardless of which party wins, the voters will finally have the last word.
Image: Pexels – Sora Shimazaki
