Cape Verde Watchdogs to Track 2024 Election Promises
As Cape Verde gears up for municipal elections on December 1, a prominent civil society group is sending a clear message to politicians: we are keeping score. 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 throughout their four-year terms.
A Digital Ledger for Accountability
In a newly released manifesto, Forum-CV detailed its plan to monitor the actions of elected officials across all 22 of the nation’s municipalities. The organization stated that this database will be maintained and updated between 2024 and 2028, serving as a transparent record of commitments versus results.
“Forum-CV intends to reinforce the role of civil society as an agent of vigilance and cooperation,” the document reads, inviting candidates to formally commit to the needs of their constituents rather than relying on empty rhetoric.
Key Demands: Housing and Governance
Beyond tracking promises, the Forum is pushing for specific policy shifts to improve local living standards. At the top of the list is “access to decent housing,” particularly for low-income families. The organization pointed to the proliferation of clandestine constructions in urban centers as a symptom of a systemic housing crisis that municipal leaders must address.
The manifesto also advocates for more direct democracy and civic pride, calling for:
- Participatory Budgets: Mandatory implementation in all municipalities to give residents a say in how public funds are spent.
- Municipal Codes of Conduct: Strengthening rules to ensure cleanliness and the protection of public spaces.
A Shrinking Competitive Landscape
The upcoming elections come amid concerns over a decline in political participation. Maria do Rosário Pereira, president of the National Elections Commission (CNE), noted on Wednesday that the number of competing groups has dropped significantly. While 16 entities (including 12 independent citizen movements) competed four years ago, only ten forces—five political parties and five citizen movements—are on the ballot this year.
Pereira warned that this drop in independent candidacies represents a “decrease in the electoral competitiveness that citizens need to make a choice,” suggesting a need to strengthen the country’s democratic fabric to avoid setbacks.
The Stakes
Approximately 352,000 voters are registered to cast their ballots, with half of the electorate concentrated in the major hubs of Praia, São Vicente, and Santa Catarina. Currently, the ruling Movement for Democracy (MpD) holds the majority of local power with 14 municipalities, while the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV) governs eight.
As the campaign intensifies, Forum-CV’s initiative ensures that while candidates may win at the polls on December 1, their real test will last the full four years of their mandate.
Image: Pexels – Edmond Dantès
